Hieroglyphs were far more than a language. They were an omnipresent and all-powerful force in communicating the messages of ancient Egyptian culture for over three thousand years; used as monumental art, as a means of identifying Egyptianness, and for rarefied communication with the gods.

In this exciting new study, Penelope Wilson explores the cultural significance of the script with an emphasis on previously neglected areas such as cryptography, the continuing decipherment into modern times, and examines the powerful fascination hieroglyphs still hold for us today.

Table of Contents:
1: The origins of writing in Egypt
2: Hieroglyphic script and the Egyptian language
3: Hieroglyphs and art
4: `I Know You, I Know Your Names`
5: Scribes and everyday writing
6: The decipherment of Egyptian
7: Hieroglyphs in the modern world
Notes
Chronology
Further Reading
Index

Author Information:
Penelope Wilson, Department of Archaeology, University of Durham