Fascinating Hieroglyphics: Discovering, Decoding & Understanding the Ancient Art

by Christian Jacq

Book Overview

For centuries not a person alive could decipher the famed ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Then a few experts began to understand how a single figure could be a picture, a symbol, and a sound all at once. You can join the ranks of those who can read hieroglyphs, and even create sentences of your own, with this ingeniously simple guide. It's the most complete introduction available, yet it's amazingly easy to understand. With best-selling author Christian...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806986999
• ISBN13: 9780806986999
• Release Date: December 1998
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A friendlier approach

Hyroglyphic studies could be daunting, especially to the beginner burdened with having to memorise such a vast number of biliteral signs and deterninatives. The process could become somewhat tedious. This book suceeds in keeping the student interested and motivated. Jansen Standt (New York)

Neat little book

Sure this isn't an in-depth textbook on hieroglyphics, but it is a neat little book that's is probably one of the finest introductions for someone who doesn't want to study for years, but just wants a good general overview of how the Egyptian language works. I recommend it.

Accessible and intrigueing

Despite other reviews of this book, I have read it and believe that Jacq achieves all of his basic aims. Does he not state on the first page that you will NOT be able to read hieroglyphs with ease by reading the book? Rather, you would gain a basic understanding of the language, complexity and history involved. Jacq uses accessible language and the odd touch of humour to make his book both entertaining and informative. The naive expectations that others have entered a book such as this with have resulted in it not being properly represented. Therefore, I am setting the record straight by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it most beneficial!

Diffculty Decoding

I recently completed the above named book and am still in the dark on decoding the Hieroglyphics. However,I did come away with how complex the ancient Egyptians were. I will once again tackle the book and probably walk away with the basic fundamentals of Hieroglyphics. I recently visited the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and they had an exhibit on Ancient Egypt, and to my surprise, I was able to decipher a small portion of the hieroglyphics.