Question

Как возникла древнеегипецкая письменность? Какие знания древних египтян были запечатлены на папирусе?

Answer 1

1)Более пяти тысяч лет тому назад египтяне изобрели иероглифы. Это произошло примерно тогда же, когда у древних шумеров появилась письменность. «Иероглиф» по-гречески означает «священное письмо», «священный знак». Первоначально иероглиф представлял собой упрощённый рисунок, обозначающий определённое слово. Позднее иероглифы могли обозначать слоги или даже звуки, но только согласные. У древних египтян обозначений для гласных звуков не было.

2)Благодаря папирусам мы узнали о верованиях и знаниях древних египтян. «Книга мёртвых» рассказала о богах и загробном мире. Из папирусов стало известно о достижениях египетской медицины. На папирусах сохранились карты Земли, изображения звездного неба, строительные чертежи и математические сочинения.

Answer 2

Emergence of Ancient Egyptian Writing

The ancient Egyptian writing system, known as hieroglyphics, is one of the oldest writing systems in the world. It emerged around 3200 BCE and was used for over 3,000 years. The development of this writing system is closely linked to the administrative needs of the ancient Egyptian state and the desire to record religious texts and literature.

The ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write on a variety of surfaces, including stone, wood, and papyrus. The writing system consisted of a combination of logographic and alphabetic elements, with over 700 different hieroglyphs representing sounds, words, and concepts.

The earliest known examples of Egyptian writing are found in inscriptions on pottery and ivory tags from Abydos, dating back to around 3200 BCE. Over time, the writing system evolved, and different scripts, such as hieratic and demotic, were developed for specific purposes, such as religious texts, administrative documents, and literary works.

Knowledge Recorded on Papyrus

Papyrus, a material made from the pith of the papyrus plant, was widely used by the ancient Egyptians as a writing surface. They recorded a wide range of knowledge and information on papyrus, including:

1. Religious Texts: The ancient Egyptians recorded their religious beliefs, rituals, and mythological stories on papyrus. These texts provided insights into their religious practices, beliefs about the afterlife, and the roles of various deities.

2. Literature: Ancient Egyptian literature, including poems, stories, and wisdom literature, was also written on papyrus. These texts provided valuable insights into the cultural and literary traditions of ancient Egypt.

3. Administrative Documents: Papyrus was extensively used for administrative purposes, such as recording tax records, legal documents, and correspondence. These documents offer valuable information about the organization of ancient Egyptian society, its economic activities, and legal practices.

4. Medical and Scientific Knowledge: Some papyrus scrolls contain medical and scientific knowledge, including information about herbal remedies, surgical techniques, and astronomical observations.

Overall, papyrus served as a versatile medium for recording and preserving the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of ancient Egyptian civilization.

The emergence of ancient Egyptian writing and the use of papyrus as a writing surface played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the cultural, religious, and administrative heritage of ancient Egypt for future generations.