glyphs
Inscribed pictorial symbols
Glyphs are carved or inscribed symbols—characters, figures, or signs that convey meaning visually.
The term appears most often in discussions of ancient writing systems: Egyptian hieroglyphs, Mayan glyphs.
In typography and computing, a glyph is any distinct visual representation of a character: The font includes glyphs for mathematical symbols.
A single letter may have multiple glyphs across different typefaces.
Character style set
- typefaceLettering style design
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- letterformA character's visual structure
- dingbatDecorative printing symbol
ligature · serif · symbol · icon · emoji · pictogram · ampersand · asterisk
Inscribed memorial pillar
- carvedCut to create form
- etchedCarved into a surface
- engravedCut into surface
- chiseledSharply cut, well-defined
epigraphy · monumental · incised · runic · petroglyphs · pictographs · rock art · memorial
Ancient bound manuscript
- stelaUpright inscribed stone slab
- jaguarLarge American spotted cat
- quetzalTropical bird or currency
- calendarDate-tracking system
long count · syllabary · logogram · obsidian · jade · cacao · scribe
Oval framing royal hieroglyphs
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- pharaohAncient Egyptian ruler
- scarabBeetle held sacred anciently
- obeliskTapering stone monument
sphinx · pyramid · sarcophagus · amulet · canopic · mummification · demotic · hieratic
font
Character style set
- typefaceLettering style design
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- letterformA character's visual structure
dingbat · ligature · serif · symbol · icon · emoji · pictogram · ampersand · asterisk · diacritic
stele
Inscribed memorial pillar
chiseled · epigraphy · monumental · incised · runic · petroglyphs · pictographs · rock art · memorial · dedication
codex
Ancient bound manuscript
calendar · long count · syllabary · logogram · obsidian · jade · cacao · scribe
cartouche
Oval framing royal hieroglyphs
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- pharaohAncient Egyptian ruler
- scarabBeetle held sacred anciently
obelisk · sphinx · pyramid · sarcophagus · amulet · canopic · mummification · demotic · hieratic · temple
sigil
Magical or heraldic symbol
esoteric · talisman · enchantment · alchemical · hermetic · magical · cryptic · seal · warding · invocation
tablet
Flat portable computing device
- ancient scriptscuneiform, Phoenician, Phoenician alphabet, Sumerian, Akkadian
- Arabic calligraphykufi, calligrapher, reed pen, bismillah, letterforms
- Egyptian languagehieratic, demotic, Coptic, cartouche, cartouches
- occult textsgrimoires, grimoire, Kabbalah, Book of Shadows, Necronomicon
- symbolssymbols, runes, symbol, asterisks, national symbol
- visual elementsdiagrams, illustrations, symbols, charts, graphs
glyphsphonemes
Minimal sound distinctions
letters · Roman letters · Latin alphabet · phonograms · runes
glyphsspoken words
speech · utterances · vocalizations · verbal communication · sounds
- Mayan glyphsAncient script of Guatemala
glyph, hieroglyphics, hieroglyph, hieroglyphic, hieroglyphs, petroglyph