hieroglyphic
Ancient carved picture
Hieroglyphic refers to the pictorial writing system of ancient Egypt, where stylized images represent words, sounds, or concepts.
The term extends to any symbol in such a system: The tomb walls were covered in hieroglyphics.
Figuratively, hieroglyphic describes writing or marks that are hard to decipher: His handwriting was practically hieroglyphic.
The word can function as noun or adjective.
Visual form of character
- pictogramSymbol using visual likeness
- logogramSymbol representing entire word
- ideogramSymbol representing concept directly
- phonogramSymbol representing speech sound
determinative · cartouche · inscription · scribe · papyrus · demotic · decipherment · Rosetta
Ancient plant-derived writing material
- RosettaTrilingual Egyptian artifact
- pharaohAncient Egyptian ruler
- pyramidPointed polyhedral solid
- sphinxMysterious, unreadable person
cartouche · scarab · sarcophagus · mummification · Nile · Anubis · Osiris · Isis
Text permanently marked
- stoneSolid earth fragment
- bas-reliefSculpture projecting slightly
- reliefEasing of distress
- steleInscribed memorial pillar
monument · tablet · obelisk · chisel · engraving · granite · limestone · frieze
Impossible to understand
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- obscureUnknown to most
- arcaneUnderstood by few
puzzling · inscrutable · coded · secret · hidden · esoteric · symbolic · lost meaning
Relating to pictures
- representationalDepicting recognizable subjects
- figurativeRepresenting through imagery
- iconographicRelating to visual symbols
- sacredWorthy of reverence
religious · ritual · magical · protective · divine · royal · ceremonial · funerary
Stylus-impressed ancient script
- Mayan glyphsAncient script of Guatemala
- SumerianEarliest known civilization
- AkkadianAncient Semitic Mesopotamian language
- HittiteAncient Anatolian civilization
proto-writing · pictographic · logographic · syllabary · ancient script
glyph
Visual form of character
- pictogramSymbol using visual likeness
- logogramSymbol representing entire word
- ideogramSymbol representing concept directly
phonogram · determinative · cartouche · inscription · scribe · papyrus · demotic · decipherment · Rosetta · translation
papyrus
Ancient plant-derived writing material
sphinx · cartouche · scarab · sarcophagus · mummification · Nile · Anubis · Osiris · Isis · Horus
inscription
Text permanently marked
- stoneSolid earth fragment
- bas-reliefSculpture projecting slightly
- reliefEasing of distress
stele · monument · tablet · obelisk · chisel · engraving · granite · limestone · frieze · etching
indecipherable
Impossible to understand
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- obscureUnknown to most
arcane · puzzling · inscrutable · coded · secret · hidden · esoteric · symbolic · lost meaning · undeciphered
pictorial
Relating to pictures
- representationalDepicting recognizable subjects
- figurativeRepresenting through imagery
- iconographicRelating to visual symbols
sacred · religious · ritual · magical · protective · divine · royal · ceremonial · funerary · mythological
cuneiform
Stylus-impressed ancient script
- Mayan glyphsAncient script of Guatemala
- SumerianEarliest known civilization
- AkkadianAncient Semitic Mesopotamian language
Hittite · proto-writing · pictographic · logographic · syllabary · ancient script
- cryptic puzzlesriddle, cipher, code, cryptogram, enigma
- ancient egypt descriptorspharaonic, mummified, pyramidal, dynastic, papyrus
- HittitesHittites, royal seals, cuneiform tablets, clay tablets, palace archives
hieroglyphicalphabetic
Relating to letters
phonetic · Latin script · cursive · cuneiform · shorthand
hieroglyphiclegible
Able to be read
readable · clear · plain · decipherable · transparent
- hieroglyphic writingAncient Egyptian picture script
- Egyptian hieroglyphsAncient pictorial writing system
- Egyptian hieroglyphicsAncient pictorial script