Les écritures égyptiennes

Summary

The provided script delves into the intricacies of ancient Egyptian writing, highlighting its primarily phonetic nature with 24 phonograms representing consonants, collectively known as the Egyptian alphabet. The script explores the versatility of hieroglyphs, which can have both symbolic and phonetic meanings, and the use of determinatives to clarify the meaning of a glyph group. The evolution of Egyptian writing is also discussed, with the development of more cursive forms like hieratic script, which follows the same principles as hieroglyphs but is written from right to left. The script's arrangement in virtual rectangles and the direction of reading, often determined by the gaze of animated beings depicted, are explained. The summary touches on the rhythmic structure of texts, the absence of punctuation, and the close relationship between text and images in Egyptian writing, where hieroglyphs retain strong graphic power, transforming into visual representations of the concepts they represent. The script also mentions the traditional use of red to highlight titles and the unique way names are depicted, emphasizing the artistic and symbolic aspects of Egyptian writing.

Takeaways

• 🔠 The Egyptian writing system is primarily phonetic, with 24 phonograms representing the equivalent of their consonants, commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet.
• 📜 Egyptian hieroglyphs can have multiple meanings, sometimes representing the object they depict or having one or more phonetic values to avoid graphical confusion and to clarify the meaning of a group of hieroglyphs.
• 📝 Determinatives, which are non-pronounced hieroglyphs, are placed after a group of hieroglyphs to specify its meaning.
• 👉 The direction of reading in Egyptian hieroglyphs is determined by the direction in which animated beings are facing; the reader follows the gaze of the figures.
• 📏 Hieroglyphs are arranged in a virtual rectangle, and the text is read from top to bottom, regardless of the direction of the animated beings.
• 💬 The hieratic script is a more cursive form of writing that developed from a simplification of hieroglyphs and always reads from right to left.
• 🔴 Titles in hieratic texts are marked in red, and the text does not contain punctuation but is rhythmed by two series of words in red.
• 🖼 The Egyptian writing system closely links text and images, with hieroglyphs maintaining a strong graphical power.
• 🌍 The hieroglyph for 'earth' becomes the representation of the ground, and the one for 'sky' becomes the image of the sky, supported by two hieroglyphs symbolizing power and strength.
• 🎤 The names of the singer and the god would typically be followed by their respective determinations, but in the script, they are disproportionately enlarged to become images of the two characters.
• 📚 Egyptian inscriptions are arranged in a harmonious composition, with careful attention to the layout and directionality to ensure the coherence of the message.

Q & A

What is the primary characteristic of Egyptian writing?

The primary characteristic of Egyptian writing is that it is essentially phonetic, with 24 phonograms representing the equivalent of their consonants, commonly known as the Egyptian alphabet.

How do Egyptian hieroglyphs sometimes convey meaning?

Egyptian hieroglyphs can sometimes convey meaning by representing what they depict or by having one or more phonetic values, in addition to their phonetic transcription.

What is the purpose of determinatives in Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Determinatives are used in Egyptian hieroglyphs to avoid graphic confusion and to specify the meaning of a group of hieroglyphs. They are placed after the hieroglyphs they qualify and are not pronounced.

What is the direction of reading for hieroglyphs in inscriptions?

In inscriptions using hieroglyphs, the signs are arranged in lines or columns and are always read from top to bottom.

How do animated beings in hieroglyphs indicate the direction of reading?

Animated beings in hieroglyphs help determine whether the reading direction is from right to left or vice versa. The reading is done in the opposite direction of their gaze, as if the reader is approaching them, to ensure the harmony of the composition.

What is the origin of hieratic writing?

Hieratic writing is directly derived from a simplification of hieroglyphs and operates on the same principle.

How is the direction of reading in hieratic texts different from hieroglyphic texts?

Unlike hieroglyphic texts, in hieratic texts, the text always flows from right to left, regardless of the direction of the animated beings depicted.

What is the significance of titles in Rite Atik texts?

In Rite Atik texts, titles are highlighted in red to distinguish them from the rest of the text.

How is the rhythm of the text indicated in the absence of punctuation in Egyptian writing?

The rhythm of the text in Egyptian writing is indicated by two series of words in red, serving as a visual form of punctuation.

What is the relationship between texts and images in Egyptian writing?

In Egyptian writing, texts and images are closely linked. Hieroglyphic signs maintain a strong graphic power, and what is written can become a pictorial representation, such as the hieroglyph of the earth becoming the soil, or the sky becoming an image of the sky.

How are the names of the singer and the god represented in the script?

The names of the singer and the god should each be followed by their respective determinatives. However, in the script, they are disproportionately enlarged and become the image of the two characters themselves.

What is the purpose of arranging inscriptions in a virtual rectangle?

Arranging inscriptions in a virtual rectangle helps to organize the text and maintain the aesthetic harmony and balance of the composition.