THE JOY OF PRINTING IN HIEROGLYPHICS

  As a subsequent Egyptian Art experience, students were offered the opportunity to print their personal, family, or friends names using a hieroglyphic alphabet. The font was downloaded on our classroom computer and they took turns typing their names out and printing them. Borders and other designs could be added with the computer or by hand drawing if they chose. Colored or white print papers were selected, and collages with tissue paper or colored pencil backgrounds were optional.

  Students also discovered that several characters in succession created interesting borders. This was a most enjoyable experience and everyone looked forward to having their turn on the computer.

  The computer font we used was from 2240-1740 BCE from the classical period of Egyptian Literature or Middle Egyptian. There were 3 script languages also in use: Hieratic (Greek priestly), Enchorial(Greek native), and Demotic (Greek popular) and the derivative language, Hieroglyphics, was almost lost in translation.

  Early forms of Hieroglyphics were discovered on limestone slabs and small statues. They were indecipherable until the discovery of the Rosetta stone discovered in 1799 and deciphered in 1824. However, other sources provided more subtleties and nuances such as religious literature, coffin texts, and the Book of the Dead. There was also secular poetry passeD down by word of mouth, and sometimes written down.

  Hieroglyphics contained over 6000 signs or pictures that represented items and events of contemporary life. Actually, it was not an alphabet as we know it, as it contained both phonetic and pictographic representation. In different periods of time some signs remained while others were introduced or discarded.

THE CREATED TEXT

  It is important to remember that this font is merely a tool in translating our English language to Hieroglyphic text and vice versa. It is only a representation of what each element is understood to mean. This font is not a complete entity in itself.

  To fully understand Hieroglyphics, one must have a complete grasp of several languages: Arabic, Coptic, Greek and Hebrew. Hieroglyphics represents a spoken language which is the basis for Greco-Roman, Arabic, Hebrew, and several eastern African languages and dialects. Hieroglyphics has a complex grammar hierarchy which does not translate into font form. This font set, as others might do, presents one interpretation of Hieroglyphics for the beginner student. It was designed to resemble a calligraphic technique offering the opportunity of writing of paper in contrast to the symbols engraved into tomb, monuments, statues and coffins.

  For this background history and the text disc we used I wish to thank the "P22 type foundry". The Hieroglyphic text was designed by C. El-Behairy, D. Kegler & R. Kegler with special thanks to Dr. M. El-Behairy, D. Lewis, L. McGough; and Sally Stutz @ the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

  This particular font is still available at p22 type foundry if you are interested.