They are pictures that mean one or more words.

Ancient Egyptians used Hieroglyphs to write.

Hieroglyphs are written in rows or columns.

You can read from left to right or from right to left.

They learnt to write hieroglyphs in a special school.

At this school you learnt how to write and read them.

If you learned how to write the language you were a “Scribe”.

Scribes went to the special school 5 years.

They were usually men but there were women as well.

They used a plant called papyrus.

They cut thin layers off the stem.

Then laid it flat as in the picture.

Finally they used a stone to smooth it out.

They wrote with reed pens and ink.

PastThey used PicturesOnly a few people knew

how to write and read.They had to use

papyrus.They used Reed Pens.

PresentWe don’t use

pictures.Many people know

how to write and read our language.

We use paper from trees.

We use pencils.