Alphabet characters were the basis for hieroglyphic writings.

The basic hieroglyph

characters are refered to as the ALPHABET. They 'spell out' names or anything which
can't be represented by other characters. The alphabet characters are read as the
sound of the object they represented.

Although vowels were used in the spoken language, they were not usually written
unless a word begins with a vowel or where it might be confusing if left out…like with
names.

EXAMPLE

In english, words are often

abbreviated by leaving out vowels.

mtn = mountain

blvd = boulevard

When these abbreviations are

read aloud, they are spoken using
vowels.
The Hieroglyphic Alphabet

HIEROGLYPH REPRESENTS PRONOUNCED   HIEROGLYPH REPRESENTS PRONOUNCED

ah i
vulture reed
(father) (filled)

two y arm & broad a

 
reeds (discovery) hand (car)

oo (too)
quail b
or   foot
chick (boot)
w (wet)

  p horned f
mat  
(pedestal) viper (feel)
 m n
owl   water
(moon) (noon)

r reed h
mouth  
(right) shelter (hat)

kh
twisted h!
  placenta (like Scotch
flax (ha!)
'loch')

ch
animal's (like s
    folded cloth
belly German (saw)
'ich')

s sh
door bolt   pool
(saw) (show)

slope of k basket k
 
hill (key) with handle (basket)

g t
jar stand   loaf
(go) (tap)

tethering tj d
hand
rope (church) (dog)
You may notice that some hieroglyphs are vowel
sounds, these are considered weak consonants
dj
snake   and are used when a word begins with a vowel or
(adjust) where it might be confusing without them, like in a
name.

+
gm
 +
kha

+
wen

+
wep

 
 +
djed

+
ges

+
hen

+
neb

+
adj
HIEROGLYPH REPRESENTS MEANING   HIEROGLYPH REPRESENTS MEANING

writing,
moisture from rain, dew, papyrus
  teach,
sky storm scroll
to know

sun, day,
star star, to teach   sun
time

beer, be
scribe, to
scribes tools   beer jug drunk,
write
tribute

green,
goddess,
papyrus stem youth,   cobra
queen
prosperity

windpipe & goodness,

  sandal strap life
heart beauty

100,000 10,000 1,000 100 10 1

EXAMPLE

1/3 is written
To represent fractions with a numerator other than one, the Egyptians wrote several
fractions which were added together to get the true fraction value.

EXAMPLE

3/4 is like saying 1/2 and 1/4

Eye of Horus Fractions

Horus, represented as the falcon-headed god, was an

Eye of Horus important god in Egyptian legend.
The symbol representing his eye, Eye
of Horus, was a powerful symbol used to protect from evil.
Pronounced "udjat" by the Egyptians, the Eye of Horus
represents a human eye with the cheek markings of a
falcon.

The 'Rx' symbol which is used by pharmacies and in

medicine has its origins in the Eye of Horus.
Separated sections with
The Eye of Horus fraction system was based on the Eye of fraction values
Horus symbol. This system was used to record
prescriptions, land and grain.

Fractions are created by combining sections of the Eye of Horus symbol. Each
section has a different value. The complete Eye of Horus with all parts in place has a
value of 1. In reality the complete Eye of Horus represents 63/64, which is rounded
off to 1.

The system is based on halves. Half of 1 equals 1/2, half of 1/2 equals 1/4 and so on
until the smallest value of 1/64. By adding together the values of different sections
fractions are created.

EXAMPLE

to represent the fraction 5/8 we

would need to combine 1/2 (4/8)
and 1/8
 5/8

Hieroglyphic signs are divided into four categories:

1. Alphabetic signs represent a single sound. Unfortunately the Egyptians took most
vowels for granted and did not represent such as 'e' or 'v'. So we may never know how
the words were formed.

2. Syllabic signs represent a combination of two or

three consonants.
3. Word-signs are pictures of objects used as the words for those objects. they are
followed by an upright stroke, to indicate that the word is complete in one sign.

4. A determinative is a picture of an object which helps the reader. For example; if a

word expressed an abstract idea, a picture of a roll of papyrus tied up and sealed was
included to show that the meaning of the word could be expressed in writing although
not pictorially.

o
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