DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0058
CHAPTER III.
Examples of Egyptian writing.—Hieroglyphic.—Hieratic.—Demotic.
Having, in the previous pages, endeavored to give to the gene-
ral reader a brief outline, presenting an intelligible view of the
chief features in the history of hieroglyphic interpretation ; it
only remains to complete this division of our task by an effort
to illustrate, by examples, the subject of Egyptian writing.
That some of the ancients were not entirely ignorant of the
phonetic character of Egyptian writing is certain. We have no
evidence, however, that any of them knew how to interpret it.
Thus Pliny says, "for those sculptures and likenesses which we
see, are Egyptian letters."* Porphyry, also, in the " Life of
Pythagoras," states that the Egyptians had three different kinds
of letters, epistolographical, hiei-oglyphical, and symbolical.
But the most particular account is to be found in Clement of
Alexandria. The passage is not without obscurity in some par-
ticulars, in others it is direct and plain. We give what seems
to be the substance of his meaning, according to the interpreta-
tion of Bunsen, who has examined it with great critical care.
The English version, as well as the original Greek, may be
found in his first volume of "Egypt's place in the World's
History." According to Clement, the Egyptians taught, first
* Etenim sculpture illae effigiesque, quas videmus, Egyptia; sunt liters.
Examples of Egyptian writing.—Hieroglyphic.—Hieratic.—Demotic.
Having, in the previous pages, endeavored to give to the gene-
ral reader a brief outline, presenting an intelligible view of the
chief features in the history of hieroglyphic interpretation ; it
only remains to complete this division of our task by an effort
to illustrate, by examples, the subject of Egyptian writing.
That some of the ancients were not entirely ignorant of the
phonetic character of Egyptian writing is certain. We have no
evidence, however, that any of them knew how to interpret it.
Thus Pliny says, "for those sculptures and likenesses which we
see, are Egyptian letters."* Porphyry, also, in the " Life of
Pythagoras," states that the Egyptians had three different kinds
of letters, epistolographical, hiei-oglyphical, and symbolical.
But the most particular account is to be found in Clement of
Alexandria. The passage is not without obscurity in some par-
ticulars, in others it is direct and plain. We give what seems
to be the substance of his meaning, according to the interpreta-
tion of Bunsen, who has examined it with great critical care.
The English version, as well as the original Greek, may be
found in his first volume of "Egypt's place in the World's
History." According to Clement, the Egyptians taught, first
* Etenim sculpture illae effigiesque, quas videmus, Egyptia; sunt liters.