Hieroglyphics

 

Hieroglyphics are a series of symbols that was the Egyptian writing. Only scribes were taught to read and write in the Hieroglyphic language. The French were able to decipher this language because of the Rosetta Stone. Read more about the Rosetta stone, and Hieroglyphics below.

The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 by French explorers who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt. It was found in a delta in the city of Rosetta. The Rosetta Stone had three different scribes inscribed on it: Greek, Hieroglyphic, and Demotic. Jean-Francois Champollion decoded the Rosetta Stone after several attempts by others in the years before. The Rosetta Stone was created in the year 196 B.C. It lists all of the good things that the pharaoh did for the priests and the people of Egypt. It was carved by a group of priests. 
Scribes

Scribes were the only people permitted to learn Hieroglyphics. They usually were rich people or royalty.
Uses For Hieroglyphics

 Hieroglyphics were put on papyrus, which was what the Egyptians used as paper. They were also put on the walls of Egyptian tombs, maybe to tell a story, maybe to just have a picture on the wall.
Thoth

Thoth was the God of Hieroglyphics. The people believed that he gave them the power to write Hieroglyphics.

To see a chart of the hieroglyphs, click here.