Ancient Writing of Egypt

Hieroglyphic writings from Egypt are some of oldest of our ancient writing; but they are not the only nor the most interesting of the ancient writing forms out of the middle and near eastern parts of our world.

Dead Sea Scrolls
A brief description and links for further information on the 800 documents found in Wadi Qumran, Israel and called collectively the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Deir el-Medina Database
From Leiden University, a survey of the New Kingdom non-literary texts from the 18th dynasty tomb workers' settlement of Deir el-Medina.

Glyph Doctors
University of Chicago PhD candidate Nicole Hansen has assembled an interesting set of online courses on Egyptology and hieroglyphic writing, as well as an active chat room and other resources.

Nag Hammadi Library
A brief definition and further information about the ancient collection of manuscripts called the Nag Hammadi Library.

Papyrology at Oxford
From Oxford, links to current research projects involving papyrus.

Pyramid Texts of Saqqara
The pyramid texts are among the oldest religious writings in the world, found carved on the walls of the Egyptian tombs at Saqqara, and likely dated to the late 5th or early 6th dynasty (about 2435 BC).

Sakkara Pyramid Texts
Samuel Mercer's translation of the pyramid texts at Sakkara dated 1952 and entirely on the web, which may or may not be an infringement of Mercer's copyrights depending on what country you ask.

Spreading the Words
From Susan Frith and the University of Pennsylvania, an online presentation of the history of the discovery of Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets at Nippur.

The Pyramid Text
From Tour Egypt and written by Taylor Ray Ellison, a history of the Saqqara Pyramid Texts.

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Archaeology