Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Egyptian hieroglyphics are the symbols that were used to write the Egyptian languages. Some of the symbols were logograms representing words, some represented syllables, and some were alphabetic symbols representing individual sounds.

The earliest example of hieroglyphs dates to about 3400 BC. About 2000 BC it is believed some of the hieroglyphs were copied by Semitic-speaking peoples and used to represent sounds in their language. This new alphabet eventually spawned the Phoenician alphabet and most of the other alphabets of the world.