Ch. 1.4 “Egyptian Achievements” (p.34-40)
WRITING
Writing in Ancient Egypt:
 Hieroglyphics –ancient Egyptian writing
system—one of world’s 1st writing systems.
 Earliest examples of writing – 3300BC
 Method/Medium - Carved in stone—then
made papyrus and wrote on that with
brushes and ink—made scrolls
 Hieroglyphic writing system used
more than 600+ symbols—pictures of
objects that stand for sounds
 lots of format options made it easy to
write, but hard to read (must look at
individual symbols)
Rosetta Stone:
 1799—discovered by French soldier
 included Hieroglyphics & text in Greek and
later form of Egyptian.
 Important because: the message in all
three languages was the same so scholars
who knew Greek were finally able to
translate the hieroglyphics.
Egyptian Texts:
 Preserved by - Dry Egyptian climate;
preserved many papyrus texts.
 Surviving texts include: government
documents, historical records, science
texts, medical manuals, literary works
Revised 12-09
KEY
EGYPTIAN ACHIEVEMENTS
ARCHITECTURE
Egypt’s Great Temples:
In addition to the pyramids Ancient Egypt is
also famous for its temples.

Beliefs and functions of temples:
homes of gods—place for people to
worship and offer gifts to gods.

Common Features: sphinxes lined paths
leading to entrance, huge thick gate with
obelisks on either side, lavish decorations,
huge columns covered with hieroglyphics
and paintings, statues of gods and
pharaohs stood along the walls

Example: Temple of Karnak—largest,
honors Amon-Re (sun god)
ART
Egyptian Art: Many of the great works of art
were created to fill the tombs of pharaohs.
Paintings:
 Purpose: for pharaoh’s tombs and temples
honoring gods.
 Where: Painted on walls of temples and
tombs, canvas, papyrus, pottery, plaster,
wood
 Who viewed it: Really only viewed by
kings and priests and important people,
since common people couldn’t enter the
temples or tombs.
 Varied subjects: historical events,
religious rituals, everyday life.
 Style: heads and legs always from side
view, upper bodies and shoulders always
seen straight on. Size of people depended
on importance. Animals drawn realistically.
Carvings and Jewelry:
 Statues and carvings in tombs and temples
 Objects of gold and precious stones
 Most valuable objects stolen over time—
King Tuts (Tutankhamen) tomb, discovered
in 1922, one of few intact tombs with
treasures left. These treasures have
taught much about Egyptian burial
practices and beliefs.