Hieroglyphic Palaeography

Abstract

Hieroglyphic palaeography has never been systematically studied until very recently. The earlier works considered the hieroglyphic sign from the perspective of the history of art. In the 1970s, new perspectives emerged thanks to H. G. Fischer, who developed an original approach through which the sign is coupled with cultural facts. However, it was not until 2004 that the first hieroglyphic palaeography program was launched by D. Meeks. There is, however, an area that escapes hieroglyphic palaeography: that of the cursive hieroglyphics. This is the reason why U. Verhoeven has just launched an inventory program of hieratic and hieroglyphic cursive signs.Only the analysis of the different stages of execution of a monumental inscription—from the cursive sign to the carved and painted sign—will make it possible to understand the work of scribes. Hieroglyphic palaeography will then be able to make up for lost time.