Hieroglyphs without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing
by Karl-Theodor Zauzich
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Description
Marveling over the tomb treasures of Ramses II and Tutankhamen that have toured U.S. and European museums in recent years, visitors inevitably wonder what the mysterious hieroglyphs that cover their surfaces mean. Indeed, everyone who is fascinated by ancient Egypt sooner or later wishes for a Rosetta stone to unlock the secrets of hieroglyphic writing. Now available for the first time in English translation, Hieroglyphs without Mystery provides the needed key. Written for ordinary people show more with no special language skills, the book quickly demonstrates that hieroglyphic writing can be read, once a few simple principles are understood. Zauzich explains the basic rules of the writing system and the grammar and then applies them to thirteen actual inscriptions taken from objects in European and Egyptian museums. By following his explanations and learning the most commonly used glyphs, readers can begin to decode hieroglyphs themselves and increase their enjoyment of both museum objects and ancient Egyptian sites. Even for the armchair traveler, learning about hieroglyphs opens a sealed door into ancient Egyptian culture. In examining these inscriptions, readers will gain a better understanding of Egyptian art, politics, and religion, as well as language. Thus hieroglyphs can serve to penetrate the mysteries, not only of what the ancient Egyptians said, but also of how they thought and how they viewed their world. show lessTags
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6+ Works 244 Members
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Hieroglyphen ohne Geheimnis
- Original publication date
- 1980
- First words*
- Das ist das erste, worüber Sie sich klar werden sollten: Die ägyptische Hieroglyphenschrift ist seinerzeit von vielen Menschen beherrscht worden.
- Disambiguation notice
- Original (1980) title: Hieroglyphen ohne Geheimnis.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Anthropology, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 493.1 — Language Other languages Non-Semitic Afro-Asiatic languages Egyptian
- LCC
- PJ1097 .Z38 — Language and Literature Oriental languages and literatures Oriental philology and literature Egyptology Egyptian writing and its decipherment
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 233
- Popularity
- 140,362
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.84)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 1
