The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented by the god Thoth and called their hieroglyphic script “mdju netjer” (“words associated with the gods”). The phrase hieroglyph arises from the Greek hieros (sacred) plus glypho (inscriptions) and was initially employed by Clement of Alexandria.

The earliest known samples of writing in Egypt have already been dated to 3,400 BC. The latest inscription that is dated hieroglyphs was made from the gate post of a temple at Philae in 396 AD.

The hieroglyphic script was mainly utilized for formal inscriptions regarding the walls of temples and tombs. In a few inscriptions the glyphs have become detailed plus in full colour, in others they’ve been simple outlines. The hieratic script was used for everyday writing.

After the Emperor Theodsius I ordered the closure of all of the pagan temples for the Roman empire within the late 4th century AD, understanding of the hieroglyphic script was lost. Read more →