in Egyptian Hieroglyphics SIR E. A. WALLIS BUDGE EGYPTIAN LANGUAGE Easy Lessons EGYPTIAN ; LANGUAGE oe eta SS SE ee mel WALLIS BUDGE~ J The ancient Egyptians expressed their ideas in writing by y means of a large number of picture signs, known as Hiero- glyphics. They began to use them for this purpose more than seven thousand years ago, and they were employed uninter- ruptedly until about roo BC, that is to say, until nearly the end of the rule of the Ptolemies over Egypt. It is hardly probable that the hieroglyphic system of writing was invented in Egypt, and evidence indicates that it was brought there by certain invaders who came from north-east or central Asia; they settled down in the valley of the Nile, somewhere between Memphis on the north and Thebes on the south, and gradually established their civilization and religion in their new home. Little by little the writing spread to the north and to the south, until at length hieroglyphics were employed, for state purposes at least, from the coast of the Mediterranean to the most southern portion of the Island of Meroé, a tract of country over 2,000 miles long. This book is intended to form an easy introduction to the study of the Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions, and was prepared in answer to many requests made both in Egypt and in England. SOME RELATED BOOKS EGYPTIAN MAGIC E, A. Wallis Budge EGYPTIAN RELIGION Egyptian Ideas of the Future Life E. A. Wallis Budge THE BOOK OF THE DEAD ‘An English Translation of the Chapters, Hymns, etc., of the Theban Recension With an Introduction and Notes E. A. Wallis Budge ‘THE NILE AND EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION Alexandre Moret History of Civilization Series ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL ISBN 07100 1129 6 Printed in Great BritainEGYPTIAN LANGUAGE