Hieroglyphs without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing [Paperback]

Karl-Theodor Zauzich (Author), Ann Macy Roth (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1992

Marveling over the tomb treasures of Ramses II and Tutankhamen that have toured U.S. and European museums in recent years, visitors inevitably wonder what the mysterious hieroglyphs that cover their surfaces mean. Indeed, everyone who is fascinated by ancient Egypt sooner or later wishes for a Rosetta stone to unlock the secrets of hieroglyphic writing. Hieroglyphs without Mystery provides the needed key. Written for ordinary people with no special language skills, the book quickly demonstrates that hieroglyphic writing can be read, once a few simple principles are understood. Zauzich explains the basic rules of the writing system and the grammar and then applies them to thirteen actual inscriptions taken from objects in European and Egyptian museums. By following his explanations and learning the most commonly used glyphs, readers can begin to decode hieroglyphs themselves and increase their enjoyment of both museum objects and ancient Egyptian sites. Even for the armchair traveler, learning about hieroglyphs opens a sealed door into ancient Egyptian culture. In examining these inscriptions, readers will gain a better understanding of Egyptian art, politics, and religion, as well as language. This popular book was originally published in Germany in 1980 as Hieroglyphen ohne Geheimnis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1st edition (1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292798040
• ISBN-13: 978-0292798045
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > African > Instruction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars primarily for travelers, students or Egyptophiles, December 30, 2000

By 

Francesca Jourdan (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hieroglyphs without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing (Paperback)

In this book, the author presents the basic grammar rules needed to read and learn common hieroglyphs. Exercises and hieroglyphic inscriptions are included to practice the material learned. The answer-key to the exercises is available as well. An interesting presentation of the hieroglyphic language, this book is mostly aimed at travelers or museum visitors who wish to read Ancient Egyptian art. For those who are most serious in pursuing their linguistic studies, the author has provided a list of books to consult. Well illustrated in color, it is all in all a recommended book for students or Egyptophiles.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best introduction on the market, August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hieroglyphs without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing (Paperback)

This book is the best introduction to reading hieroglyphic inscriptions I have seen. While "How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs" by Collier et.al. is more complete, and actually introduces you to more grammar and vocabulary, Zauzich's book is a very readable introduction. It starts from the very basics and will allow you to get the gist of a variety of inscriptions from actual artifacts: cartouches, items from Tut-Ankh-Amen's tomb, etc. I highly recommend it!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great primer, June 9, 2003

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hieroglyphs without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing (Paperback)

Hieroglyphs without Mystery by Karl-Theodor Zauzich.
Of the four basic texts I have on learning hieroglyphs, this book is perhaps the simplest of the four to use. It has a basic vocabulary and basic grammar building. The exercises and the flow of the book didn't appeal to me as much as Collier and Manley's, but that might be due to the fact it is translated from German (I have studied German, but not well enough, alas, to attempt to read hieroglyphs through German if I can avoid it!). This book also incorporates a transliterated system to aid learning.

I appreciated the honest in the first sentence: 'This is this first point to remember: Egyptian hieroglyphic writing was mastered in its own time by many people, most of whom were no more geniuses than present-day people (or Egyptologists) are.'

Sometimes the study of something such as hieroglyphs can be unnecessarily intimidating; this book reduces anxiety by reducing the language to easily understood components of vocabulary and grammar.

This book would make a good volume for self-study, for church or study groups to use for informal learning, and for one-semester courses for those interested in ancient history or ancient languages.