Noun

Singular hieroglyph

Plural hieroglyphs

hieroglyph (plural hieroglyphs)

1. an element of an ideographic writing system

Derived terms

• hieroglyphic

"Hieroglyphs" refer to the characters made by graphical figures, be it animals, objects, or concepts that concern the religions' gods.

The characters that are relatively old seem to originate from Sumer or Elam in Mesopotamia. The hieroglyphs that were originally used for recording agricultural products and handicrafts led to the birth of linear and cuneiform script, widely used by the Sumerians, Assyrians and Babylonians. 5000 years ago, Ancient Egyptians had started to use other Hieroglyphs in a separate way. The features that are visually well arranged about heavenly bodies, natural phenomena, animals and plants, God, humans, residences and households were used for 3000 years for recording Egyptian. Ancient Greeks called this system Hieroglyphs, literally "sacred writings", because it was mainly used by religious functionaries who doubled as government bureaucrats.

Hieroglyphs was represented in the form of symbols and pictures.They were mainly written on papyrus paper or on Pyramids. Hieroglyphics came form the Egyptian term: "Writing the Words of God" Hieroglyphics was created by ancient Egyptians. Today many believe that this form of writing was first to be created, but actually it was cuneiform. Hieroglyphics originated from Sumer in Mesopotamia. Before the creation of writing on Pyramids they were used for recording agricultural products and registering births, rather like a census.