Hieroglyphics were the main form of record keeping during the ancient Egyptian time period. They were made up of pictures or symbols that had specific meaning and were used on tombs and pyramids as a way to honor the lives of ancient Pharaohs and the Gods, and to ensure safe passage to the underworld. Hieroglyphics were also used in ancient temples and on sacred texts. They were often referred to as “The Language of the Gods” and were believed to have been discovered by Thoth, the God of knowledge. …show more content…
It wasn’t until 1798 that the Europeans even considered the idea of translating the ancient hieroglyphs of Egypt. The idea began when Napoleon Bonaparte led a military expedition to Egypt to secure trade for the french. He also took with him various scientists who recorded all that they saw, pyramids and hieroglyphs included. Then, a year later, the Rosetta Stone was discovered during the construction of an addition to a military fort. Its discovery sparked a frenzy among the French, who had previously been guessing at the definitions of the