Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Sumer and Egypt were two of the world’s earliest civilizations and the sites of two of the oldest known writing systems. Egyptian hieroglyphs came into existence early in the third millennium BCE, a little after Sumerian cuneiform, and were probably invented under the influence of the latter. There are many instances of early Sumer-Egyptian relations. but there is no direct evidence for the transfer of writing, and a credible argument can also be made for the independent development of writing in Egypt. Like cuneiform, hieroglyphs consisted of pictograms-pictorial symbols that initially stood for objects-some of which over time became phonetic signs standing for sounds. Unlike the symbols in Sumerian writing, which eventually lost their resemblance to the original pictograms, Egyptian hieroglyphs retained their recognizable form for a very long time. Even after the hieroglyphs became phonetic signs. they were recognizable as things: a man with hands raised, a crown, a hawk. Eventually the Egyptians evolved determinants, signs placed next to a hieroglyph to show whether it served as a phonetic symbol or as a pictogram. But neither hieroglyphic script nor cuneiform evolved into a fully phonetic form-an alphabet.

Indeed, Sumerian never had the chance to develop an alphabet. It was replaced by Akkadian, the language of Sumer’s conquerors, before its development was complete. Hieroglyphs, on the other hand, existed for thousands of years without losing their character as pictures. Probably this can be explained by the Egyptian attitude towards writing. For the Egyptians. writing brought immortality. It was a magic form in which the lines themselves carried life and power. Some hieroglyphs were too powerful to be carved in a place considered to have magic power; they could only be written in a less powerful area, so they wouldn’t bring unwanted forces into existence. The name of a king, carved in hieroglyph on a monument or statue, gave him a presence that went on past his death. To deface the carved name of a king was to kill him eternally.

This attitude towards writing preserved the pictorial form of hieroglyphs, since the pictures themselves were thought to have such power. In fact, far from being phonetic, hieroglyphs were designed to be indecipherable unless you possessed the key to their meaning. The Egyptian priests guarded this knowledge in order to keep this tool in their own hands. Ever since, the mastery of writing and reading has been an act of power. As a matter of fact, hieroglyphs were so far from intuitive that the ability to read them began to fade even as Egypt still existed as a nation.

Hieroglyphs could preserve their magical and mysterious nature only because the Egyptians invented a new and easier script for day-to-day use. Hieratic script was a simplified version of hieroglyphic writing, with the careful pictorial signs reduced to a few quickly dashed lines. Hieratic script became the preferred handwriting for business matters, bureaucrats, and administrators. Its existence depended on another Egyptian invention: paper. No matter how simple the lines were, they could not be written quickly on clay.

Clay had been the traditional writing material of both the Sumerians and the Egyptians for centuries. It was plentiful and reusable. The writing on a smooth-surfaced clay tablet that had been dried in the sun would last for years; but simply dampen the surface of the tablet, and the writing could be smoothed and altered. to correct or change a record. Records that had to be protected from tampering could be baked instead, fixing the marks into a permanent, unalterable archive. But clay tablets were heavy, awkward to store, and difficult to carry from place to place, severely limiting the amount of writing in any message. Sometime around 3000 BCE, an Egyptian scribe realized that the papyrus (a thick paper made from the papyrus plant) used as a building material in Egyptian houses could also serve as a writing surface. With a brush and ink, hieratic script could be laid down very rapidly on papyrus. Of course. papyrus was also much simpler to carry. And while hieroglyphs continued to be carved on the stone walls of tombs and on monuments and statues, letters and other important documents were written on papyrus.

 

 

1

Sumer and Egypt were two of the world’s earliest civilizations and the sites of two of the oldest known writing systems. Egyptian hieroglyphs came into existence early in the third millennium BCE, a little after Sumerian cuneiform, and were probably invented under the influence of the latter. There are many instances of early Sumer-Egyptian relations. but there is no direct evidence for the transfer of writing, and a credible argument can also be made for the independent development of writing in Egypt. Like cuneiform, hieroglyphs consisted of pictograms-pictorial symbols that initially stood for objects-some of which over time became phonetic signs standing for sounds. Unlike the symbols in Sumerian writing, which eventually lost their resemblance to the original pictograms, Egyptian hieroglyphs retained their recognizable form for a very long time. Even after the hieroglyphs became phonetic signs. they were recognizable as things: a man with hands raised, a crown, a hawk. Eventually the Egyptians evolved determinants, signs placed next to a hieroglyph to show whether it served as a phonetic symbol or as a pictogram. But neither hieroglyphic script nor cuneiform evolved into a fully phonetic form-an alphabet.

Why does the author mention that “There are many instances of early Sumer-Egyptian relations”?

ATo explain why hieroglyphs consisted of pictograms like cuneiform

BTo provide a reason for thinking that the invention of Egyptian hieroglyphs may have been influenced by Sumerian cuneiform

CTo suggest that cuneiform came from Egypt

DTo support the claim that Sumer and Egypt were two of the world’s earliest civilizations

 

2

Sumer and Egypt were two of the world’s earliest civilizations and the sites of two of the oldest known writing systems. Egyptian hieroglyphs came into existence early in the third millennium BCE, a little after Sumerian cuneiform, and were probably invented under the influence of the latter. There are many instances of early Sumer-Egyptian relations. but there is no direct evidence for the transfer of writing, and a credible argument can also be made for the independent development of writing in Egypt. Like cuneiform, hieroglyphs consisted of pictograms-pictorial symbols that initially stood for objects-some of which over time became phonetic signs standing for sounds. Unlike the symbols in Sumerian writing, which eventually lost their resemblance to the original pictograms, Egyptian hieroglyphs retained their recognizable form for a very long time. Even after the hieroglyphs became phonetic signs. they were recognizable as things: a man with hands raised, a crown, a hawk. Eventually the Egyptians evolved determinants, signs placed next to a hieroglyph to show whether it served as a phonetic symbol or as a pictogram. But neither hieroglyphic script nor cuneiform evolved into a fully phonetic form-an alphabet.

Paragraph 1 supports which of the following statements about Sumerian cuneiform characters?

AThey eventually evolved into an alphabet.

BThey were in use for a longer period of time than Egyptian hieroglyphs were.

CThey later developed into symbols that no longer looked like pictures.

DThey were probably invented after the independent development of writing in Egypt.

 

3

Indeed, Sumerian never had the chance to develop an alphabet. It was replaced by Akkadian, the language of Sumer’s conquerors, before its development was complete. Hieroglyphs, on the other hand, existed for thousands of years without losing their character as pictures. Probably this can be explained by the Egyptian attitude towards writing. For the Egyptians. writing brought immortality. It was a magic form in which the lines themselves carried life and power. Some hieroglyphs were too powerful to be carved in a place considered to have magic power; they could only be written in a less powerful area, so they wouldn’t bring unwanted forces into existence. The name of a king, carved in hieroglyph on a monument or statue, gave him a presence that went on past his death. To deface the carved name of a king was to kill him eternally.

Why does the author state that “To deface the carved name of a king was to kill him eternally”?

ATo help illustrate the importance of writing for ancient Egyptians

BTo show what would result when a powerful hieroglyph was carved in a place thought to have magic power

CTo argue against the idea that carving the name of a king on a monument or statue gave him a presence that continued after death

DTo provide an example of a punishment that Egyptians could use for kings

 

4

Indeed, Sumerian never had the chance to develop an alphabet. It was replaced by Akkadian, the language of Sumer’s conquerors, before its development was complete. Hieroglyphs, on the other hand, existed for thousands of years without losing their character as pictures. Probably this can be explained by the Egyptian attitude towards writing. For the Egyptians. writing brought immortality. It was a magic form in which the lines themselves carried life and power. Some hieroglyphs were too powerful to be carved in a place considered to have magic power; they could only be written in a less powerful area, so they wouldn’t bring unwanted forces into existence. The name of a king, carved in hieroglyph on a monument or statue, gave him a presence that went on past his death. To deface the carved name of a king was to kill him eternally.

Paragraph 2 suggests that, according to ancient Egyptian belief, which of the following might result if certain hieroglyphs were carved in a place considered to have magic power?

AEgypt would conquer Sumer.

BThe hieroglyphs would no longer be recognizable as pictures.

CThe person carving them would become immortal.

DUnfortunate events could occur in the world.

 

5

This attitude towards writing preserved the pictorial form of hieroglyphs, since the pictures themselves were thought to have such power. In fact, far from being phonetic, hieroglyphs were designed to be indecipherable unless you possessed the key to their meaning. The Egyptian priests guarded this knowledge in order to keep this tool in their own hands. Ever since, the mastery of writing and reading has been an act of power. As a matter of fact, hieroglyphs were so far from intuitive that the ability to read them began to fade even as Egypt still existed as a nation.

The word “possessed” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Asought

Bhad

Cdiscovered

Dstudied

 

6

This attitude towards writing preserved the pictorial form of hieroglyphs, since the pictures themselves were thought to have such power. In fact, far from being phonetic, hieroglyphs were designed to be indecipherable unless you possessed the key to their meaning. The Egyptian priests guarded this knowledge in order to keep this tool in their own hands. Ever since, the mastery of writing and reading has been an act of power. As a matter of fact, hieroglyphs were so far from intuitive that the ability to read them began to fade even as Egypt still existed as a nation.

The word “intuitive” in the passage is closest in meaning to

Ahelpful

Breadily understood

Crepresenting sounds

Dcommon

 

7

Hieroglyphs could preserve their magical and mysterious nature only because the Egyptians invented a new and easier script for day-to-day use. Hieratic script was a simplified version of hieroglyphic writing, with the careful pictorial signs reduced to a few quickly dashed lines. Hieratic script became the preferred handwriting for business matters, bureaucrats, and administrators. Its existence depended on another Egyptian invention: paper. No matter how simple the lines were, they could not be written quickly on clay.

According to paragraph 4, all of the following are true of hieratic writing EXCEPT:

AIt was easier to use than hieroglyphs were.

BIt was formed with simple lines rather than careful pictorial signs.

CIt was used in business and government communications.

DIt could be written quickly on clay.

 

8

Hieroglyphs could preserve their magical and mysterious nature only because the Egyptians invented a new and easier script for day-to-day use. Hieratic script was a simplified version of hieroglyphic writing, with the careful pictorial signs reduced to a few quickly dashed lines. Hieratic script became the preferred handwriting for business matters, bureaucrats, and administrators. Its existence depended on another Egyptian invention: paper. No matter how simple the lines were, they could not be written quickly on clay.

Clay had been the traditional writing material of both the Sumerians and the Egyptians for centuries. It was plentiful and reusable. The writing on a smooth-surfaced clay tablet that had been dried in the sun would last for years; but simply dampen the surface of the tablet, and the writing could be smoothed and altered. to correct or change a record. Records that had to be protected from tampering could be baked instead, fixing the marks into a permanent, unalterable archive. But clay tablets were heavy, awkward to store, and difficult to carry from place to place, severely limiting the amount of writing in any message. Sometime around 3000 BCE, an Egyptian scribe realized that the papyrus (a thick paper made from the papyrus plant) used as a building material in Egyptian houses could also serve as a writing surface. With a brush and ink, hieratic script could be laid down very rapidly on papyrus. Of course. papyrus was also much simpler to carry. And while hieroglyphs continued to be carved on the stone walls of tombs and on monuments and statues, letters and other important documents were written on papyrus.

According to paragraphs 4 and 5, which of the following was a reason that the use of papyrus in writing was important to the development of hieratic script?

APapyrus was considered less magical and mysterious than stone or clay and was therefore preferred for day-to-day use.

BRecords written on papyrus could be protected for longer periods of time than those written on clay.

CHieratic script began when people started writing on papyrus houses using brushes and ink.

DPapyrus allowed for the kind of quick writing for which hieratic script was developed.

 

9

Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage

There were good reasons for this.

Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square  sentence to the passage.

10

Egyptian hieroglyphs were one of the earliest writing systems.

AAlthough no direct evidence exists for the transfer of writing from Egypt to Sumer, there are reasons to believe that Egyptian hieroglyphs developed independently and led to the development of cuneiform.

BHieroglyphs became more complex and less connected to sounds over time as they became more important in religious and ma gical practices.

CThe use of hieroglyphs for writing was largely confined to priests, but Egyptians developed a simplified script that was a form of hieroglyphic writing for everyday purposes.

DHieroglyphs continued to look like pictures for a particularly long time, in part because they were thought to have magical power.

EThe difficulty of mastering hieroglyphs contributed to Egypt’s beginning to fade as a nation, and this led to a need for a practical, everyday form of writing.

FThe invention of paper helped hieratic script to become more widespread, but hieroglyphs continued to be carved in stone used for monumental purposes.

 

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