Introduction to Hieroglyphs

Open a doorway into the ancient past and begin reading basic hieroglyphic inscriptions from monuments in Egypt and museums with Egyptian collections.

Through hands-on practice with historical texts, you will learn to read and interpret basic inscriptions, explore simple grammar and vocabulary, and discover what these texts reveal about Egyptian life and culture.

You will be introduced to the cultural and historical context of the ancient Egyptian language and start to learn the signs as well as basic grammar concepts. You will learn and practice consonant signs, writing and transliterating them, before progressing on to reading titles and short phrases.

This course is based on Mark Collier and Bill Manley’s book, How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs, which contains grammar notes, exercises with keys and a basic dictionary. Learners will be provided with relevant sections of this textbook.

Any recommended reading will be advised by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a computer or other device with internet connection.

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Interpret and evaluate the ancient Egyptian writing system by applying knowledge of word order, basic grammar, and common titles or formulaic expressions in Middle Egyptian
• Demonstrate basic competence in Middle Egyptian by constructing, transliterating, and translating basic words and sentences
• Contextualise linguistic practices within their broader historical and cultural frameworks.

No prior knowledge needed—just curiosity and a love of ancient history!

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support.

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course is due to start, unless the course is full or cancelled.