Hieroglyph

For other uses, see Hieroglyph (disambiguation).

Egyptian hieroglyphs typical of the Graeco-Roman period, sculpted in Relief.
Glyphs: viper, owl, 'bread bun', cloth (seatback cushion), 3-strokes (plural), etc.

A hieroglyph (Greek for "sacred carving") is a character of the ancient Egyptian writing system. Partially pictographic logographic scripts reminiscent of ancient Egyptian are also sometimes called "hieroglyphs". In Neoplatonism, especially of the Renaissance, a hieroglyph was an artistic representation of an esoteric idea, which actual Egyptian hieroglyphs seemed to the Neoplatonists to be. The word hieroglyphics (τὰ ἱερογλυφικά [γράμματα]) may refer to writings in a hieroglyphic system.

Scripts which have been called "hieroglyphs"

Anatolian hieroglyphs Cretan hieroglyphs Dongba script Egyptian hieroglyphs Hieroglyphic Luwian Indus script Isthmian script

Kaidā glyphs Linear A Linear B Maya hieroglyphs Mi'kmaq hieroglyphic writing Olmec hieroglyphs

See also

• Mother Goose in Hieroglyphics
• List of languages by writing system

Further reading

• Robinson, Andrew (2007). The Story of Writing: Alphabets, Hieroglyphs & Pictograms. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 9780500286609. OCLC 172818065.