UNDERSTANDING HIEROGLYPHS

A fun introduction to ancient Egypt and its hieroglyphs

Author Hilary Wilson Publisher Michael O’mara Books Price £16.99 Released Out now

In Understanding Hieroglyphs: A Quick And Simple Guide, Hilary Wilson sets out to provide an introduction not just to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, but to the world and society in which they were used. Before we can begin to understand hieroglyphs we must first understand the society in which they were used, and much of the book is devoted to painting a picture of the Egyptian society.

By providing a wealth of everyday information regarding life in ancient Egypt, Wilson aims to demystify hieroglyphs and place them in their proper context, and it must be said that she certainly succeeds in doing so. What emerges is a world in which hieroglyphs weren’t the keepers of ancient and mystic wisdom, but an everyday system of communication that certainly embraced

mysticism, but also the most everyday minutiae of life.

Whilst dedicated Egyptologists would do well to look elsewhere, for those with a more casual interest in Egyptian hieroglyphs, Wilson’s book will be an accessible and entertaining primer. It is illustrated throughout in black and white and of course contains plenty of hieroglyphs to aid the reader in their understanding. Whilst a few more detailed hieroglyphic texts and translations would have been welcome, as an introduction to a complex subject Understanding

Hieroglyphs is a solid and accessible foundation from which readers will be able to progress to more in-depth volumes on the topic.