The best books about Egyptian hieroglyphs

Studying the history of Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, pharaohs, and the Egyptian language enters another dimension when you examine it through Egyptian hieroglyphs. But decoding this popular Egyptian writing system takes time, effort, and discipline.

Here are some books that can help you learn this historic script, whether or not you’re a linguist. You can also enjoy the books below if you’re interested in books on Ancient Egypt in general.

What are hieroglyphs?

Ancient Egyptians used the hieroglyphic script or ideograms as one of their writing systems. The word hiero + glyphs comes from hiero, meaning “holy” and glypho meaning “writing” in Ancient Greek. Herodotus and other Greeks called the hieroglyphs “holy writing” because of their pictorial elegance.

Hieroglyphs have three types of signs:

• Logograms representing words
• Phonograms representing sounds
• Determinatives marking the end of the world

Jean-Francois Champollion was the first person to decipher hieroglyphs in the 1820s. He used a Rosetta Stone, a valuable resource from the second century BCE written in hieroglyphics, Demotic, and Greek scripts.

The script took thousands of years to develop. The Old Egyptian dates from 3000 BCE, Middle Egyptian from around 2000 BCE, and the newer version was formed around 495 AD.

Numerous Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs exist today, but the Nile Valley civilization examples are the most well-researched.

Great books on Egyptian hieroglyphs

Egyptologists and Egyptology enthusiasts can learn about this unique script from the following resources and bestsellers. Here are the best books in English about Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners by Bill Manley

This comprehensive hieroglyph reading guide uses Egyptian monuments for practice. Complete beginners can use this book to learn how to interpret the script from the monuments following step-by-step instructions.

This book highlights the lives of ancient Egyptians and their views on life, death, the outside world, and humanity.

How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs—A Step–by–Step Guide to Teach Yourself by Mark Collier and Bill Manley

Mark Collier and Bill Manley are both teachers of Egyptian hieroglyphs to non-linguists. They use actual inscriptions from the British Museum and focus on those readers will likely find in other collections, tomb scenes, obelisks, stelas, or funerary writings.

The book treats numerous aspects of Middle Egyptian grammar and fosters the development of reading skills.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead by John Romer

The Egyptian Book of the Dead collects funerary texts from different sources. It is a compilation of prayers, spells, incantations, and words to live obstacle-free in the afterlife. These texts were often added to the sarcophagi and served as passports to people on the way from the burial.

Anyone with a particular interest in Ancient Egypt should enjoy this book.

Reading Egyptian Art: A Hieroglyphic Guide to Ancient Egyptian Painting and Sculpture by Richard H. Wilkinson

This multi-purpose book shares Egyptian art’s hidden meanings. Think of it as a symbol encyclopedia and a comprehensive source of Egyptian religious ideas.

Hieroglyphs in this book are organized by topics, including a woman nursing a child, vultures, falcons, the Sun, Isis knots, the sky, lotuses, and many others.

Egyptian Hieroglyphics: How to Read and Write Them by Stephane Rossini

This easy-to-use book is suited for beginners learning the transcription of hieroglyphs. The book explains 134 phonetic elements through an explanatory introduction, word analysis, pronunciation guide, phonetic and figurative sign tables, and more.

Hieroglyphics by Jill McCorkle

Deciphering hieroglyphics is about revealing secrets from the past. That’s exactly what Jill McCorkle’s book tries to accomplish in this emotional novel. The book’s characters seek to understand the past, one another, and the present.

This novel explores the essence of being a parent and how the past has countless secrets only the most determined can unravel.

Learn about Egyptian hieroglyphs with Speechify Audiobooks

Speechify Audiobooks is an online platform that allows users to listen to audiobooks on their favorite devices. The database currently has over 60,000 titles in all genres, including history, ancient languages, and hieroglyphs.

Users have complete control over the playback and can listen to the recordings at up to 4.5x times the original speed. Download the files for offline listening on your iOS or Android device and get access to the latest audiobook releases.

If you like the idea of audiobooks, you can get your first one for free by trying Speechify. Explore the Ancient Egyptian civilization, the Sphinx of Giza, Tutankhamun, and other pharaoh stories by listening to them on your way to work, during walks, or while you relax at home.

New books are added daily. Visit the official page for more details.

FAQ

Where can I learn Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Online courses, universities like Cambridge, and some museums offer classes in Egyptian hieroglyphics. You can learn independently or join a group.

Is it possible to read Egyptian hieroglyphs?

Yes, it’s possible to read Egyptian hieroglyphs. Learning the skill, however, takes incredible amounts of effort, understanding, patience, and practice.

How hard is it to learn Egyptian hieroglyphics?

Learning hieroglyphics is a serious endeavor. Academics spend years learning how to decipher them.

What is the best way to read hieroglyphics?

Read hieroglyphics from top to bottom. Depending on the text, you can start either from the left or the right side. People, animals, and birds always face the beginning of a sentence, so that’s a good start.

What is the difference between hieroglyphics and hieratic?

Ancient Egyptians used hieratic, one of the two newer hieroglyphics forms (along with demotic), in administrative and business settings. They also used hieratic in science, literature, and religious texts. Hieratic evolved from hieroglyphics, which are the original writing form of the Egyptian civilization.

How do you know if a hieroglyph is a word?

Words in Ancient Egyptian texts consist of phonetic signs and determinatives. The determinative identifies the item in question (tail for animals, etc.). The last determinative marks the end of the word.