Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians used hieroglyphs to write their sacred texts because hieroglyphs were considered a form of sacred writing, used to communicate with the gods and preserve sacred knowledge.
For the Egyptians, hieroglyphs were not just a writing system; they were sacred symbols directly linked to the gods and magic. Each sign had a precise religious value that established a connection between our world and the beyond. For example, drawing a hieroglyphic animal could invoke its strength or divine protection. Writing thus became more than a practical act; it was a true religious ritual that brought sacred texts to life. The hieroglyph itself was supposed to carry the spiritual power of what it represented. Essentially, it was like a magical formula carved in stone, capable of influencing both the real and the invisible.
Egyptian priests reserved the use of hieroglyphs for a religious and political elite, which allowed them to maintain a certain spiritual and social control. Since the common people did not master this complex writing, only these specialists could read, interpret, and explain the sacred texts. Hieroglyphs served to reinforce the authority of the pharaoh and the clergy: through them, leaders created the impression of having a direct connection to the deities. By thus limiting access to religious knowledge, they ensured that their word remained sacred and uncontested, like a valuable spiritual monopoly.
Hieroglyphs allowed the Egyptians to accurately convey their myths, religious rites, and sacred knowledge without losing precision over time. Unlike spoken languages or classical alphabetic scripts, these fixed graphic symbols remained unchanged for generations. A good way to avoid the game of Chinese whispers, in a sense! These symbols could encapsulate multiple shades of meaning in a single sign, ensuring that those who could decipher them had a clear and precise understanding of the sacred message. It was perfect for preserving intact traditions essential to their worldview and the spiritual stability of society.
The Egyptians believed that a sacred text had to be beautiful to attract the attention of the gods. Therefore, writing in hieroglyphs was also a way of staging a kind of magical drawing: the better the image, the stronger the message. Each sign had an artistic dimension as well as a symbolic one, with vibrant colors, balanced proportions, and visual harmony. This beauty was not just for decoration but served to spiritually elevate the one who read or looked at it. We are therefore far from mere written words: each hieroglyph tells its story through its form and beauty.
Scribes were essential to the maintenance and transmission of the sacred knowledge of the ancient Egyptians. Their job was primarily to meticulously copy religious texts to preserve and pass them down unchanged to future generations. Since becoming a scribe required extensive study, they were among the few who mastered the complex art of hieroglyphs. Thus, it was a highly respected job. Thanks to them, these religious writings, too precious to be altered or lost, were able to traverse history. Scribes were, in a way, the guardians and transmitters of this sacred knowledge.
One of the most famous sacred texts written in hieroglyphs is the 'Egyptian Book of the Dead.' This collection of prayers and incantations accompanied the deceased in the afterlife to guide them on their spiritual journey and help them successfully navigate the posthumous trials.
It is thanks to the Rosetta Stone that scholars of the 19th century, particularly Jean-François Champollion, were finally able to decipher hieroglyphs. This stone featured the same text inscribed in three scripts: hieroglyphic, demotic, and ancient Greek, which allowed the mystery to be unraveled.
To become a scribe in ancient Egypt, one had to undergo rigorous training for several years. Being a scribe was regarded as an honor reserved for a privileged social class, as they held the essential knowledge and secrets related to religion and administration.
Hieroglyphs were often painted with specific colors: black symbolizing the fertility of the Nile, red representing both vital energy and chaos, while green and blue were associated with youth, rebirth, and eternal life.
The abandonment of hieroglyphs is mainly due to the historical and cultural evolution of ancient Egypt, particularly with the arrival of the Greeks and Romans, followed by the spread of Christianity. These transformations led to the gradual adoption of simpler and faster scripts, such as Greek and Coptic.
Hieroglyphs were essentially reserved for an educated elite consisting of scribes, priests, and members of the royalty. The majority of the Egyptian population used simpler writing systems such as hieratic or, later, demotic.
The key to deciphering hieroglyphs lies in the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799, which contains the same text inscribed in Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphs. Thanks to this trilingual text, Jean-François Champollion was able to understand the logic and decipher this complex ancient script in 1822.
Although they were widely used for religious texts, hieroglyphs also served in official, administrative, historical, and even poetic inscriptions. However, their sacred dimension remained ever-present, endowing the writings with a profound symbolic value.
Yes, it is entirely possible today to learn to read and write hieroglyphs thanks to specialized courses, educational books, or online resources. However, mastering them requires patience and a thorough study of Egyptian civilization.
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