Explore the fascinating world of Egyptian Hieroglyphics and understand the symbols used in the art, artefacts and relics found in the tombs, temples, and manuscripts of ancient Egypt.

The Gods of Egypt

Hieroglyphics Alphabet

Hieroglyphs and Hieroglyphics

Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics
The Egyptian writing called hieroglyphs or hieroglyphics used more than 700 pictures, signs and symbols to represent different objects, actions, sounds and ideas. The simple facts and information detailed in the fact sheets on Egyptian Hieroglyphics provide a fast guide to the subject including the meanings and definitions of some of the most common symbols displayed in Egyptian Hieroglyphics. An ideal educational resource for kids, schools and homework about Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The illustrated Fact Sheet format is an ideal way to convey the basic principles of Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Your understanding of ancient Egypt will significantly increase as you gain an understanding of ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics, the language of the gods.

Translating Simple Egyptian Hieroglyphics
Start to learn about Egyptian Hieroglyphics the easy way!

• The ancient Egyptians used simple pictures of people, animals and objects to write down their language, which are called hieroglyphics
• Egyptian Hieroglyphics became more complicated when they conveyed concepts and ideas
• The fast and easy way to learn about Egyptian Hieroglyphics is to understand the basic pictures and symbols used to convey:
  • People
  • Everyday objects used in ancient Egypt
  • Animals, Birds & Reptiles
  • The Sacred Symbols of ancient Egyptian gods and the Pharaohs

The following chart provides information to enable the translation of Common Egyptian Hieroglyphics and also provides details of the meanings and symbolism of the Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Translation of Common Symbols in Egyptian Hieroglyphics
The following chart provides the translation of many of the common symbols used in ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Refer to the article on Hieroglyphs & Hieroglyphics Alphabet for additional facts and information about ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The article on Pictures of the Symbols of Egypt will also be helpful. Understanding these common symbols will enable you to identify some the meanings of mysterious Egyptian Hieroglyphics. When learning about ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics an understanding of these basic signs and symbols will enable you to translate, and start to read Egyptian Hieroglyphics.

Translation of Common Egyptian Hieroglyphics & Symbols Chart

Picture of Egyptian Hieroglyphic Symbol: Name of Symbol: Translation of Egyptian Hieroglyphics

God Seated:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a god of ancient Egypt in the seated position, note the headdress and beard

Goddess Seated:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a goddess seated, note the features, headdress and lack of beard

Uraeus Rearing Cobra:
Hieroglyphic Uraeus Rearing Cobra symbol of ancient Egyptian Gods and Pharaohs, emblem of sovereignty, royalty and divine authority in ancient Egypt

Sun God Ra:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the sun god Ra, with the solar disk as his crown, with the uraeus, rearing cobra symbol

The Ankh:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Ankh, one of the most potent of all symbols that represented eternal life

Was Scepter:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Was Scepter was held by Pharaohs and gods, magical emblems of authority and kingship in Egypt

The Wedjat, the Eye of Horus:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Wedjat, the Eye of Horus a symbol of royal power, protection and good health

Ntr of Ntjr:
Gods were referred to  as "Ntr" or Ntjr" indicated by the hieroglyphic symbol of a pennant with a long handle, an emblem of divinity, the second has a uraeus attached

Scarab:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Scarab symbolizing the  sun, resurrection, transformation and protection

Feather of Ma'at:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Feather of Maat representing truth, justice, morality and balance.

Lotus Flower:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Lotus flower (water lily) symbolizing rebirth and regeneration

Oblong Shen Ring or Shenu:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the oblong Shen Ring or Shenu, a protective rope, used to enclose and protect a royal name. The Egyptian word 'shen' means encircle.

Round Shen Ring:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Round Shen Ring, anything inside the ring was eternally protected, it was a symbol of divine power

The Sun Hieroglyphs:
The Sun Hieroglyphs show the sun with rays, the sun rising and the sun disk. Often used to indicate the passing of time

The Bennu Bird:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Bennu Bird symbolizing resurrection and the rising sun

The Sphinx:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Sphinx as a reclining lion, associated with tombs or temples

The Djed:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Djed pillar symbolized the "potency and duration of the pharaoh's rule"

The Hare:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the hare means “to open” because hares sleep with their eyes open, emblem for the essence of life

Incense Burner:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for an Incense Burner. The Egyptians burned huge quantities of incense every day to honor the gods and ritual purification

Leopard Head:
Hieroglyphic Symbol of a Leopard Head was an emblem for strength

City:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a city

Obelisk:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for an obelisk

Temple:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a temple

Palace:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a palace

Pyramid:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for pyramid

Tomb:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a tomb

Ba:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Ba. The ancient Egyptians called the soul by two names - the Ka and Ba

Man worshipping a god:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a man worshipping a god, no headdress or scared symbols

A Child:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a child, indicated by finger inserted in mouth (sucking their thumb)

A Pharaoh as a child:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a pharaoh as a child, depicted wearing the crown of Egypt

Prisoner:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a prisoner and enemy of Egypt

Goose: Son of, Daughter of:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for Goose meaning Son of or Daughter of ...

Heq Scepter (Crook):
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Heq Scepter (Crook) symbolized the Pharaoh's role as the 'shepherd' of the people

Flail:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the flail that symbolized the role of the Pharaoh as provider of food for the people. The Crook and Flail were held together as symbols of power and authority in Egypt

Underworld (Duat):
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Underworld called Duat by the ancient Egyptians

White Crown of Egypt:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the White Crown, called the Hedjet, the symbol that represented Upper Egypt (southern)

Double Feather Crown of Egypt (Shuti):
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Shuti crown meaning the Two Feathers (divine law)

Double Crown of Egypt:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Pshent, the red and white Double Crown that represented a unified Egypt

Red Crown of Egypt:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Red Crown, called the Deshret, was the symbol that represented Lower Egypt (North Egypt)

Atef Crown of Osiris:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Atef crown which was worn by the god Osiris. Tall, conical, white crown of Upper Egypt with ostrich feathers on each side.

Khepresh Crown of Egypt:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the Khepresh, the blue crown that was worn by Pharaohs in battle

Throne:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the throne of Egypt, depicted as a step it is strongly associated with the goddess Isis and also with Queen Cleopatra                                         

Egg:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for the egg, as a symbol of fertility                                          

Loaf of Bread:
Hieroglyphic Symbol for a loaf of bread, ability to provide food

Goddess / Queen:
Hieroglyphic Symbol  it is often seen included in the hieroglyph for a goddess or Queen of Egypt symbolizing fertility and their ability to give life and food

Hieroglyph for Mut

Hieroglyph for Cleopatra

Translation of Common Egyptian Hieroglyphics & Symbols Chart

Hints and Tips about Translating Egyptian Hieroglyphics
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics can be found on tomb wall paintings, on statues, on walls and in documents. You can learn an awful lot just by understanding some basic symbols used in the ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics and pictures:

• The People: How do you know whether the person depicted is a god, a pharaoh or just a normal person?
  • First look at the headdresses or crowns!
  • A normal person would not wear a headdress or crown
  • Only gods and pharaohs wore crowns and headdresses
  • The gods wore lots of different and unusual headdresses and were often depicted with the heads of animals
  • The type of crowns worn by Pharaohs can tell you which part of Egypt they ruled

  How do you know whether the person in the picture was dead or alive? Living pharaohs wore a false beard with a straight edge, only dead Pharaohs wore a false beard with an upward pointing curl

• The names of Pharaohs were written in a cartouche. A cartouche is an oblong, magical rope which was drawn to contain the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that spelt out the name of a Pharaoh

So, with just some basic information you can understand a lot about the following painting!

Egyptian Hieroglyphics from tomb paintings of Mentuhotep II, a Pharaoh of Upper Egypt, with his Cartouche 

Numbers in Egyptian Hieroglyphics
The numbers used in the Egyptian Hieroglyphics are shown in the following picture. By combining the following ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, any number could be constructed. The higher value symbols were always written in front of the lower value signs. The meaning of numbers in Egyptian Hieroglyphics are as follows:

Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics