An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary

5RR Sir E. A. Wallis Budge. London, 1920. First edition, rebound.

Notes

Hieroglyphics, the writing system of ancient Egypt, is a complex language made up of logograms (symbols that represent words or ideas) and phonograms (symbols that represent sounds). It was used for religious texts, monumental inscriptions, and administrative records. Hieroglyphs can be divided into three main types: ideograms (which depict objects or concepts directly), phonetic symbols (which represent sounds or syllables), and determinatives (which clarify the meaning of words). The system is highly flexible, allowing for both artistic expression and precise communication. Hieroglyphic writing was typically read from right to left or left to right, depending on the direction the characters faced, and it was often inscribed on tombs, temples, and papyri. While deciphering the script was a long challenge, it was finally unlocked in the 19th century with the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, which helped scholars understand the symbols and their meanings.

An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, first published in 1920, is a comprehensive reference work aimed at cataloging and translating the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Budge, a renowned British Egyptologist, compiled this extensive dictionary with thousands of entries, providing the meanings, pronunciations, and uses of various hieroglyphic signs. The work covers not just the individual characters but also their application in different historical and cultural contexts, making it a crucial resource for scholars and students of Egyptology.

The dictionary is notable for its detailed approach to Egyptian language and script, helping to decode one of the world's oldest writing systems. While some of its interpretations and translations have been updated with modern research, it remains an important historical text in the study of ancient Egypt. Budge’s work reflects his deep engagement with Egyptology, and though later scholars have refined and expanded upon it, his dictionary continues to be a key foundational resource in the field.

Description

Maroon canvas binding with gilt hieroglyphic plate on upper board. Brown leather label on spine with gilt embossed lettering. Marbled edges and red and yellow saddle stitching. Crease in spine more noticeable in leather label due to the way the spine lies when open (see images). Rebound first edition. Fine condition.