Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy: A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications) [Import] [Paperback]

Henry George Fischer (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.; 3rd edition (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810964422
• ISBN-13: 978-0810964426
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,272,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I could find, March 13, 2004

By 

Neuro Mancer (CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy: A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs (Hardcover)

This is one of several books on the subject that I bought because I was late on a decorative commission and had to learn how to write hieroglyphs fast. This turned out to be the only book of any value. Using Gardiner's Sign List to organize the symbols into catagories, Fischer first shows a large drawing of the glyph, then shows with a series of sequential sketches how to arrive at the final design. Using his technique, I was able to achieve satisfactory results in a remarkably short time.

Unlike some of the other authors, Fischer does redraw, modify, or try to "reinterpret" the symbols. I compared his hieroglyphs to photographs of tomb and temple walls and found his to be true to the originals.
The 4th edition contains some additional glyphs and information in supplementary references and addenda.
This is a beautifully designed and bound book, worthy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I use this in conjunction with Wilkinson's "Reading Egyptian Art".

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide, December 10, 2003

By 

Laurel Green Crawford (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs (Hardcover)

As others have said, this volume is slim and thankfully clear and concise. The glyphs are simplified to make them easier to draw, but still recognizably hieroglyphs (as opposed to cursive forms or hieratic-- and sometimes clearer than Faulkner). There are many larger illustrations that show the glyph in more naturalistic form; these are quite interesting. When the forms varied significantly over time, all versions are shown (i.e., Old Kingdom form, Middle and New Kingdom form(s).) It's very helpful, for writing and reading.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT GUIDE TO PRACTICE YOUR HIEROGLYPHIC CALLIGRAPHY, February 14, 2001

By 

Robert (Buenos Aires, Capital Federal Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs (Hardcover)

Once again Dr. H.G. Fischer has produced an outstanding title and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, must be congratulated for issuing it as a wonderful book. If you are beginning your own practice of hieroglyphic writing, this is the best (and the only) guide to obtain a nice and elegant hand-writing. TopTen Title.