Egyptian Hieroglyphics: How to Read and Write Them

I agree with previous reviewers that this book is best for visual artists who want to learn hieroglyphs for their projects, or grade-school educators who wish to incorporate hieroglyphs into a lesson plan on ancient Egypt—but it would not be useful for the undergrad Egyptology student. The clue is in the title: 'Hieroglyphics: How to Read and Write Them', not 'Teach Yourself Egyptian Language'. And, while this book is sumptuously illustrated, it is also worth noting that it contains no scans or reproductions of actual papyri or stone carvings, diminishing its practical use if one is primarily interested in viewing historical texts and carvings. This book is beautiful in its own right, but it does not show the simplicity with which the ancient scribes would have really written the characters. Neither does it explain the grammar. For those seeking linguistic rather than orthographic or calligraphic content, something like J. P. Allen's 'Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs' may be better. All in all, for what it is, this book is a welcome addition to the artist's, art historian's, and primary-school educator's library. It was not intended for an audience of academics and historians, but the everyday person who wants to understand something of the Egyptian writing system, conveyed through large and detailed illustrations.

Pictures, pronunciation, and small details to make this book a great resource. Approx. 2-3 hieroglyphics per page in large script. Great for a novice egyptologist or interested person of egypt's past. Must have!

This lovely book has been around for about ten years. Stephane Rossini is a scholar, but her purpose here is more practical, I think. Although the title says, "How to read and write them," the real value of this book is about how to draw & use hieroglyphics in your arts & crafts with some accuracy as to their meanings. About five pages of this book are given (in small print) to principles of Egyptian writing, pronunciation & word analysis. The rest of the book is crammed with hundreds of excellent drawings & calligraphic symbols, divided into consonant sounds, phonetic signs, & determinative (categorical) signs. To put it simply, you get birds, bugs, gods, knots, flowers, eyes, mammals, fish, figures doing different jobs, lizards, crosses & abstractions, all in an authentic Egyptuan style. With adult guidance, Egyptian Hieroglyphics will be useful in children's arts & crafts projects. 96 pages long, nothing fancy about it. I've had a copy on arts book shelf for years.

This book is good. It really helps you learn Hieroglyphics

this book is almost all illustrations. Contains a short summary explaining grammar, though not in -depth. Good sign list, also shows how to draw glyphs. Might be good as a reference, but for serious student it will not stand alone.