Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs (from the Greek, meaning ‘sacred writing’) are a form of logographic script, whereby pictures and symbols are used to represent words or phrases. Though not exclusively Ancient Egyptian, this is the culture with which hieroglyphs are most often associated. The sacred nature of this form of writing meant that only priests, nobility and royalty would be able to read it, and is evidenced by fact that hieroglyphs were used only for religious or ceremonial purposes, including in tombs or on religious artefacts such as amulets.