Thursday: History

What was the name of the writing system used in ancient Egypt?

Hieroglyphics were the formal writing system used in ancient Egypt.

Hieroglyphics were the formal writing system used in ancient Egypt, combining logographic and alphabetic elements. This intricate script was primarily used for monumental inscriptions, religious texts, and ceremonial purposes.
Hieroglyphics are characterized by their detailed symbols, which often depict animals, objects, and abstract shapes. Ancient Egyptians believed writing was a sacred gift from Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing, and as such, hieroglyphics were reserved for important purposes.
While hieroglyphics fell out of regular use after the Roman Empire, their decipherment in the 19th century by Jean-François Champollion, using the Rosetta Stone, unlocked significant insights into Egyptian history and culture.

What about the other answers?

  • Phoenician Alphabet: The Phoenician alphabet is a consonant-based writing system developed around 1050 BCE, serving as the foundation for many modern alphabets, including Greek and Latin.

  • Sanskrit: Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language of India, known for its precise grammar and use in Hindu scriptures, classical literature, and philosophy.

  • Pictographs: Pictographs are early forms of writing that use simple images or symbols to represent objects, ideas, or sounds, often seen in ancient cave art and early writing systems.

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