Egyptian Hieroglyphics: How to Read and Write Them (Paperback)

~ Stephane Rossini (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Clear, easy-to-follow text tells absolute beginners how to transcribe hieroglyphs by presenting and explaining 134 phonetic elements. Included are an explanatory introduction, section on word analysis, newly enlarged pronunciation guide, tables of phonetic and figurative (or determinative) signs, and much more. Unusually large, clear illustrations.

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486260135
• ISBN-13: 978-0486260136
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,476 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars extensively illustrated, little in way of grammer, etc.,, February 10, 1999

By A Customer

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.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for Art Projects--Poor For Anything Else, January 11, 2001

By	Kat K. Munro (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This thin trade paperback has some merits. If you are an artsy person, it contains nicely drawn heiroglyphics at a large size that makes it easy to learn to duplicate the finer details. It combines them to form some simple words like "daughter, water, to attack, to fly, war, enemy" to give your art some true meaning. As a art book, as a "how to draw heiroglyphics convincingly" I give the book 4 stars. As a manual for learning how to read them? I give it 1 star.

The scholar will find little of use in this book. There is an incredibly limited vocabulary provided and almost no information on the actual writing process (grammar, orientation, phonetic transcription). The word bank covered would only take a chapter of time in a more indepth book. (Try Mark Colliers' How to Read Egyptian Heiroglyphics A Step By Step for a good teach yourself to read manual.)

If you are looking for well done examples of heiroglyphics for art purposes, this is a useful book. If you wish to expand your knowledge in the reading and writing of heiroglyphics you will be terribly disappointed at the waste of money.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Egyptian Hieroglyphics : How to Read and Write Them, February 28, 2001

By	William W Sutherling "sutherling" (Sherman Oaks, California USA) - See all my reviews

Good graphics, but little on reading, writing, grammar, sythetic or general principles of the language or extracting meaning from actual Egyptian inscriptions which have a string of hieroglyphs. Better for beginners: Karl-Theodor Zauzich. Hieroglyphs without mystery: an introduction to ancient egyptian writing. (translated and adapted for english speaking readers by Ann Macy Roth) University of Texas Press, Austin. 1992. 121 pp. This has actual examples from the Tutankhamun exhibition. After this book, Colier and Manley.

It would help if there were other reviews that indicated the easiest path to mastering other ancient languages with cultural samples as well, e.g. egyptian hieroglyphics, akkadian cuneiform, sanskrit, biblical hebrew, ancient greek. The main question I have is: What is the first book that is easy (but actually gives you some useful information on one or two simple but original inscriptions)? Second book on some, but not all, actual grammar and vocabulary for some brief sample of literature. Third book more complete grammar. Fourth book grammar, more vocabulary, readings, etc. I can do better if I advance in easy, digestible steps, but I am nevertheless willing to commit to the effort required for mastery as my ultimate goal.