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Hello to Hieroglyphs Trivia Quiz

You've seen the animals and interesting shapes. But what about learning some of the magic behind hieroglyphs?

A multiple-choice quiz by sterretjie101. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
sterretjie101

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
294,097

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
877

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 67 (0/10), Guest 86 (0/10), Guest 82 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What did the ancient Egyptians call their writing system? Hint

they had no specific term for it

Ancient writings

The divine words

Secret Signs

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. According to the ancient Egyptians, who invented the system of writing? Hint

Thoth

Osiris

Anubis

the first pharaoh

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Hieroglyphs depicting dangerous animals could be magically robbed of their power. How did the scribes do it? Hint

depicted them without heads

all of these

stuck spears through the bodies

substituted with other signs

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following birds is NOT depicted in hieroglyphic writing? Hint

Ostrich

Hawk

Owl

Duck

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. If hieroglyphic texts contain a being or animal with a face, which direction should be text be read from? Hint

away from the face

into the face

no one knows

it makes no difference

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What sign is added to a word to indicate that it represents an abstract concept? Hint

Bound papyrus roll

crossed circle

seated scribe

pyramid

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The vulture is an ideogram for what word? Hint

bird of prey

vulture

mother

throne

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The sign for the letter L was represented by which regal animal? Hint

panther

peacock

leopard

lion

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What is the original term describing the border used to enclose the name of a pharaoh? Hint

Djet

Shen

Mensh

Ankh

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. The last dated hieroglyphic inscription was penned in AD394. Where can it still be seen? Hint

Valley of the Kings

Temple of Alexandria

City of Thebes

Isis temple of Philae

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What did the ancient Egyptians call their writing system?

Answer: The divine words

The Egyptian term was 'metu neter'. They called their language 'word of the mouth of Egypt'.

2. According to the ancient Egyptians, who invented the system of writing?

Answer: Thoth

Frequently depicted as ibis-headed, the god Thoth was known as 'the divine scribe', acting as clerk in the heavenly courts, recording verdicts and writing letters.

3. Hieroglyphs depicting dangerous animals could be magically robbed of their power. How did the scribes do it?

Answer: all of these

When depicting dangerous animals such as hippos or serpents, the scribes left out a body part or head or inserted spears or knives into the bodies. The Seth animal, god of chaos and evil was frequently replaced with a hieroglyph representing the same sound or concept. In that way the animals magically became incapable of harming humans.

4. Which of the following birds is NOT depicted in hieroglyphic writing?

Answer: Ostrich

Although ostriches were present in Egypt from ancient times, they do not appear to have been used as hieroglyphs. The last ostriches disappeared from Egypt at the end of the nineteenth century.

5. If hieroglyphic texts contain a being or animal with a face, which direction should be text be read from?

Answer: into the face

Although hieroglyphic texts can be read from the right or the left, the trick is that the reader must always search for a face and then read in the same direction the face is looking.

6. What sign is added to a word to indicate that it represents an abstract concept?

Answer: Bound papyrus roll

A bound papyrus roll probably carries the meaning of something that can not be touched or seen, just like an abstract noun such as honesty or insight.

7. The vulture is an ideogram for what word?

Answer: mother

The vulture was the sign for the Theban goddess Mut, the consort of Amun. She proclaimed: "I am the mother of all mothers."

8. The sign for the letter L was represented by which regal animal?

Answer: lion

The letter L was added relatively late in the history of hieroglyphic writing to accommodate the foreign syllables of the Greek dynasties and their pharaohs.

9. What is the original term describing the border used to enclose the name of a pharaoh?

Answer: Mensh

The Egyptians called it 'mensh'. The modern term, 'cartouche, is borrowed from French, meaning cartridge. Shen is the sign for eternity, ankh the sign for life and djet for stability.

10. The last dated hieroglyphic inscription was penned in AD394. Where can it still be seen?

Answer: Isis temple of Philae

The inscription is in the temple of Isis that stood on the Philae island in the Nile. When the Aswan High Dam was constructed, the island was permanently submerged but the temple was moved to higher ground where tourists can still visit it today.

Source: Author sterretjie101

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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