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Decoding Egyptian hieroglyphs : how to read the secret language of the pharaohs / Bridget McDermott ; foreword by Joann Fletcher.
Penn Museum Library - Egyptian Collection PJ1097 .M33 2001
Available
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- McDermott, Bridget.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Egyptian language--Writing, Hieroglyphic.
- Egyptian language.
- Physical Description:
- 171 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm
- Place of Publication:
- San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2001.
- Summary:
- Decoding Egyptian Hieroglyphs is a fully illustrated and easy-to-use guide to the history and meaning of these ancient symbols. Simple instructions for reading and interpreting glyphs will introduce you to the basic signs for names, dates, and numbers. You'll also learn key words about all aspects of the Egyptian world -- from astronomy and the yearly flooding of the Nile to family and romance. Put your new knowledge to use as you identify vocabulary words in photographs of inscribed artifacts, or just enjoy the enchanting details of life as lived by Egyptian kings and their subjects. For beginners and Egyptologists alike, reading hieroglyphs and understanding their origins provides fascinating insight into the mysterious world of the ancients.
- Contents:
- Chapter 1 First Steps 8
- Discovery and Decipherment 10
- The Rosetta Stone 11
- The History of the Language 12
- The Scribal Legacy 14
- The Role of the Scribe 15
- How Hieroglyphs Work 18
- The Arrangement of Signs 19
- Spelling and Pronunciation 20
- The Alphabet 22
- Determinatives 24
- Chapter 2 Origins of the Signs 26
- Signs from Nature 28
- On the Banks of the Nile 28
- Bodies Human and Divine 30
- The Animal World 34
- Hosts of the Air 36
- Reeds and Flowers 38
- The Divine Elements of Life 41
- Life on Earth 44
- Dwellings of Men and Gods 45
- The Harvest of the Fields 50
- Eating and Drinking 53
- Recreation and Sport 56
- Chapter 3 The Sacred Art Of Writing 58
- The Magical Dimension 60
- Worship of the Gods 60
- The Art of Magic 64
- Tomb Inscriptions 66
- Reading a Tomb Inscription 68
- The Pyramid Texts 70
- Coffin Texts 72
- The Book of the Dead 74
- How to Read Objects 76
- Statues 76
- Jewelry 78
- Weapons of War 80
- The Power of Names 82
- The King's Titles 82
- Gods and Goddesses 86
- Reading a Temple Inscription 90
- Chapter 4 Realms of Meaning 92
- A Healthy Life 94
- The Body Beautiful 94
- The Healing Arts 96
- Death and the Afterlife 98
- Relationships 104
- Generations 104
- Expressing Emotions 106
- Love and Family Life 108
- Trades and Skills 110
- Mining 111
- Servants of the Gods 112
- Servants of the State 115
- A Life of Work 118
- Soldiers 120
- Weapons and War 122
- The Force of Egypt 122
- Military Records 124
- Egypt and Beyond 126
- The Black Land 126
- The Forty-Two Nomes 128
- Sacred Sites 130
- Peoples Beyond the Black Land 134
- Calculation and Measurement 138
- Time 138
- The Seasons of the Year 140
- Mathematics 142
- Celestial Worlds 144
- Creation Myths 145
- Day and Night 146
- The Waters of Heaven 148
- Chapter 5 Reference File 150
- The Grammar of Hieroglyphs 152
- Sample Translations 160
- Sign Index 166.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (page 171) and index.
- ISBN:
- 0811832252
- OCLC:
- 46419793
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