Scribes in Ancient Egypt

Happy first day of school to all of us in New York!! To celebrate, let’s learn about scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪! 

Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 were very highly regarded in ancient Egyptian society. Due to the complexity of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/hieratic, those who were able to master it were extremely valued. Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 recorded magic spells, wills and other legal contracts, medical procedures, and tax records. Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 also helped to preserve Egyptian culture throughout time. They were considered part of the royal court and did not have to serve in the military because their job as a scribe 𓏟𓀀 was so essential. 

It took almost ten 𓎆 years for a person to complete scribal training and children started school as young as five 𓏾 years old. Though most scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 are shown to be men 𓊃𓀀𓏤, there is archaeological evidence that some girls also attended school and learned to read. Most boys inherited the job of scribe 𓏟𓀀 from their father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 as is the same with other occupations in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

Fun fact: it took me about six 𓏿 years to really master reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Even though I’ve been practicing/reading them for over 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years now, I’m still learning every single day – that’s the beauty of learning a language! The learning is never complete!

There were also many different types of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, and their roles were usually designated by titles written on funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦! 

𓏞 – Scribe

𓏟𓀀 – Scribe

𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary

𓏞𓐎𓏛 – Scribe of Accounts 

𓏞𓊹𓉗𓏏𓉐 – Scribe of the Temple

𓏞𓎘𓎛𓏲𓏋𓏫 – Scribe of the Offering Table

𓏞𓉒 – Scribe of the Treasury

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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