Hieroglyphs Gallery

Papyrus of Ani (Book of the Dead) - The Judgement

(Above) -Twelve Gods seated in Order, as judges before a table of offerings. (Below) - The Psychostasia of Weighing of the Conscience of Ani. The Jackal-headed Anubis trying (in the balance) the heart of the deceased against the feather (symbolising the law). On the left, Ani and his wife cn be seen in a pose of devotion; on the right an Ibis-headed Thoth, the Scribe of the Gods, notes down the resultsof this trial, whilst behind, the monster Amemit, the Devourer, looms menacingly. On the left of the balance, Shai (Destiny) with two Goddesses Renenit and Meschenit behind, all under the soul of Ani (symbolisedby a human-headed hawk and the symbol of a cradle). Date: around 1550 BCE

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Symbolic characters, numerals and figures

Symbolic characters, numerals and figures of the Aztecs, Mexico. Number hieroglyphs, and symbols for day A, night B, midnight C, year D, century E, sky F, air G, earth H, water I, and flood L. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Luigi Giarre from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient and Modern Costumes of all the Peoples of the World, Florence, Italy, 1843. Date:

© Florilegius/Mary Evans

Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, Egypt

Columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, Egypt. The hall is part of the Precinct of Amun-Re, the largest of the four main temple areas at the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor (ancient Thebes). The massive columns once supporting the hall's roof which has since then fallen down are 80 feet (24 m) in height and are one of the most visited sights in Egypt. Date: circa 1920

© Mary Evans / Pharcide