Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics are like the world's first emoji system! Instead of using letters like we do, ancient Egyptians drew tiny pictures to represent words, sounds, and ideas. An eye meant 'to see,' a bird could represent different sounds, and a wavy line meant water. Imagine writing your name using pictures of animals, objects, and symbols! Egyptian scribes were like ancient superheroes with their writing powers. They spent years in school learning to draw hundreds of different hieroglyphic symbols perfectly. They wrote on papyrus (an early form of paper made from reeds), stone walls, and even wooden coffins. The most important stories and spells were carved into temple walls and tomb chambers to last forever. For over 1,000 years, no one could read hieroglyphics until archaeologists found the Rosetta Stone - a special rock with the same message written in hieroglyphics, ancient Greek, and another Egyptian script. This discovery was like finding the ultimate translation key! Today, we can read the amazing stories ancient Egyptians left behind, learning about their daily lives, beliefs, and incredible adventures along the Nile River.