PART #1

Picture Puzzles

Ancient Picture Puzzles

Hieroglyphic writing was based on the same principals as the modern picture puzzle, but the ancient Egyptians took it to a new level by making it a formal written language.

PART #2

Alphabet

Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics are just like ancient picture puzzles. The symbols could represent the sound of an object or an idea associated with an object.

Vowels

• Vowels were usually left out when writing

• There were a few exceptions. For example when a word began or ended with a vowel sound or with names.

Spoken Language

• Vowels existed in the spoken language but not in the written language.

• A modern example of words written without vowels would be abbreviations. 

PART #3

Reading Direction

How to Read

English vs Hieroglyphics

Left to Right

• Look at the direction that both the human and animal are facing

• If they both face left you start reading on the left and go to the right

Right to Left

• Look at the direction that both the human and animal are facing

• If they both face right you start reading on the right and go to the left

Rows and Columns

Regardless of reading direction hieroglyphics could be written in rows or columns