History

^History

^{Egyptian hieroglyphs were very flexible Signs could be written horizontally (left or right) and vertically (always reading down)
 However inscriptions words were rarely strung out in a long line the way that we do in English. Instead, signs were arranged in neat rectangular groups to fit neatly together
 Tall signs stood on their own and smaller or flatter signs were positioned one above the other or tucked in to fill the available space
 This inscription comes from the memorial temple of Merenptah – the 13th son and successor of the Great Ramses II
 I have drawn rectangles around the two groups of hieroglyphs. The boxed signs read: "Sa Ra, Neb Khau" – ‘Son of Ra, Lord of Appearances’
 Photo: Richard Mortel}