https://hierolens.com/learn/ How hieroglyphs work, what the famous symbols mean, how the pharaohs wrote their names and what to read at museums and sites. A new article every day. en Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://hierolens.com/learn/shoshenq-i-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/shoshenq-i-in-hieroglyphs/ Wed, 11 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Shoshenq I in hieroglyphics: his name ššnq and throne name Hedjkheperre read sign by sign, and his campaign relief at Karnak's Bubastite Portal. https://hierolens.com/learn/cambyses-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/cambyses-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Cambyses II in hieroglyphics: Mesutire and Kembudj read sign by sign, the statue in the Vatican that names him, and the Apis bull he did not kill. https://hierolens.com/learn/first-pharaoh-of-egypt/ https://hierolens.com/learn/first-pharaoh-of-egypt/ Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Who was the first pharaoh of Egypt? Narmer, around 3100 BC, is the usual answer. Menes, the kings of Dynasty 0 and the first woman to rule as king. https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-egypt-obsessed-with-life-victoria/ https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-egypt-obsessed-with-life-victoria/ Sun, 08 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Royal BC Museum Egypt exhibit, Victoria, until 3 January 2027: coffins, Book of the Dead papyri and canopic jars, and the hieroglyphs to read on them. https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-egypt-in-prague/ https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-egypt-in-prague/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ancient Egypt in Prague: Deir el-Medina mummies at the Hrdlička Museum, the National Museum's collection and the Czech team that digs at Abusir. https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-nubia-exhibition-raleigh/ https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-nubia-exhibition-raleigh/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ancient Nubia exhibit at the NCMA in Raleigh until 10 January 2027: the Kushite kings who ruled Egypt, Taharqa's shabti and how to read their names. https://hierolens.com/learn/hieroglyphs-to-hype-fairfield/ https://hierolens.com/learn/hieroglyphs-to-hype-fairfield/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Hieroglyphs to Hype at Fairfield University Art Museum until 12 December 2026: Egyptomania from Napoleon to Elizabeth Taylor, and the real names to read. https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-egyptian-language/ https://hierolens.com/learn/ancient-egyptian-language/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ancient Egyptian language: what the Egyptians spoke, who could write, hieroglyphs, hieratic and Demotic, and the five stages from the pyramids to Coptic. https://hierolens.com/learn/who-were-the-sea-peoples/ https://hierolens.com/learn/who-were-the-sea-peoples/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Who were the Sea Peoples? Pirates, hired fighters and migrants who raided the eastern Mediterranean and fought three pharaohs between 1278 and 1177 BC. https://hierolens.com/learn/ramses-and-the-pharaohs-gold-london/ https://hierolens.com/learn/ramses-and-the-pharaohs-gold-london/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ramses exhibition London: what to read at Battersea Power Station until 1 January 2027, from Ramesses II's cartouches to the notes on his cedar coffin. https://hierolens.com/learn/how-cleopatra-lost-egypt/ https://hierolens.com/learn/how-cleopatra-lost-egypt/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT How did ancient Egypt end? Cleopatra's war with her brother, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Actium and her death in 30 BC, with legend kept apart from fact. https://hierolens.com/learn/tutankhamun-tomb-discovery/ https://hierolens.com/learn/tutankhamun-tomb-discovery/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Tutankhamun's tomb was found on 4 November 1922. How the first step led to sealed doors stamped with his name, and how to read those seals today. https://hierolens.com/learn/teaching-for-merikare/ https://hierolens.com/learn/teaching-for-merikare/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Teaching for Merikare: an Egyptian king tells his son how to rule. Its famous lines in translation, one read in hieroglyphs sign by sign. https://hierolens.com/learn/darius-i-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/darius-i-in-hieroglyphs/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Darius I in hieroglyphics: his throne name Setutre and birth name drywš read sign by sign, and the Hibis temple and Susa statue that carry them. https://hierolens.com/learn/nectanebo-i-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/nectanebo-i-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT Nectanebo I in hieroglyphics: read his throne name Kheperkare and birth name Nakhtnebef, then find monuments linked to him. https://hierolens.com/learn/nectanebo-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/nectanebo-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Nectanebo II in hieroglyphics: Senedjemibre and Nakhthorheb read sign by sign, his statue at the Met and his empty sarcophagus in the British Museum. https://hierolens.com/learn/saqqara-tombs-of-ptahshepses-and-sabu/ https://hierolens.com/learn/saqqara-tombs-of-ptahshepses-and-sabu/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ptahshepses' tomb and mummy at Saqqara: the Czech mission re-excavates his tomb and his father Sabu's, and finds the chapel of Sabu's wife. https://hierolens.com/learn/psamtik-i-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/psamtik-i-in-hieroglyphs/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Psamtik I in hieroglyphics: his name psmṯk and his throne name Wahibre read sign by sign, and the Karnak stela where his daughter's adoption is recorded. https://hierolens.com/learn/amenhotep-son-of-hapu-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/amenhotep-son-of-hapu-in-hieroglyphs/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Amenhotep son of Hapu ran Amenhotep III’s works and was later worshipped as a healer. His story, his statues and the six signs of his name. https://hierolens.com/learn/hemiunu-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/hemiunu-in-hieroglyphs/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Hemiunu ran Khufu’s royal works when the Great Pyramid rose. Meet his statue and tomb, then read the three signs of his name. https://hierolens.com/learn/djedefre-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/djedefre-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Djedefre in hieroglyphics: his cartouche read sign by sign, the first king called "son of Ra", his pyramid at Abu Rawash and his name over Khufu's boat. https://hierolens.com/learn/mentuhotep-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/mentuhotep-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Mentuhotep II in hieroglyphics: Nebhepetre and Mentuhotep read sign by sign, the Theban king who reunited Egypt, and his temple at Deir el-Bahari. https://hierolens.com/learn/unas-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/unas-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Unas in hieroglyphics: his cartouche read sign by sign as Wenis, the first Pyramid Texts at Saqqara, and the reliefs of his long causeway. https://hierolens.com/learn/amenemhat-iii-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/amenemhat-iii-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Amenemhat III in hieroglyphics: Nimaatre and Amenemhat read sign by sign, the Black Pyramid's capstone in Cairo, and his tomb by the Labyrinth at Hawara. https://hierolens.com/learn/senusret-i-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/senusret-i-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Senusret I in hieroglyphics: his cartouche Kheperkare read sign by sign, the White Chapel at Karnak and the obelisk of Heliopolis still standing in Cairo. https://hierolens.com/learn/thutmose-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/thutmose-ii-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Thutmose II in hieroglyphics: Aakheperenre and Thutmose read sign by sign, the husband of Hatshepsut, and the tomb in the Theban hills confirmed in 2025. https://hierolens.com/learn/amenhotep-i-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/amenhotep-i-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Amenhotep I in hieroglyphics: Djeserkare and Amenhotep read sign by sign, the king worshipped at Deir el-Medina, and the one royal mummy left unwrapped. https://hierolens.com/learn/horemheb-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/horemheb-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Horemheb's name in hieroglyphics, read sign by sign: "Horus is in festival", the general who became king and carved his cartouche over Tutankhamun's. https://hierolens.com/learn/british-museum-guide/ https://hierolens.com/learn/british-museum-guide/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT British Museum hieroglyphics to read: the Rosetta Stone, Ramesses II's cartouches, the Abydos king list, the Shabaka Stone, Nebamun's paintings and more. https://hierolens.com/learn/merneptah-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/merneptah-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Merneptah's name in hieroglyphics, read sign by sign: beloved of Ptah, thirteenth son of Ramesses II, and the stela in Cairo that first names Israel. https://hierolens.com/learn/taharqa-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/taharqa-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Taharqa's name in hieroglyphics, read sign by sign: the Kushite king of Egypt, his column at Karnak, his shrine in Oxford and his pyramid at Nuri. https://hierolens.com/learn/ptolemy-v-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/ptolemy-v-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ptolemy V in hieroglyphics: the cartouche on the Rosetta Stone read sign by sign, his Egyptian throne name, and the boy king's crowning at Memphis. https://hierolens.com/learn/alexander-the-great-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/alexander-the-great-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Alexander the Great in hieroglyphics: his name spelled sign by sign as Aleksandros, his throne name, and the shrine at Luxor where he offers to Amun. https://hierolens.com/learn/senusret-iii-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/senusret-iii-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Senusret III in hieroglyphics: his cartouche Khakaure read sign by sign, his birth name, the Semna border stela and where to see his careworn statues. https://hierolens.com/learn/imhotep-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/imhotep-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Imhotep's name in hieroglyphics, read sign by sign: "he who comes in peace", carved on a statue base of Djoser, and how the architect later became a god. https://hierolens.com/learn/abu-simbel-guide/ https://hierolens.com/learn/abu-simbel-guide/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Abu Simbel hieroglyphics to read: the rebus of Ramesses II's name over the door, Greek soldiers' graffiti, the Kadesh reliefs and Nefertari's temple. https://hierolens.com/learn/karnak-guide/ https://hierolens.com/learn/karnak-guide/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Karnak hieroglyphics to read on a walk: cartouches on the Hypostyle Hall columns, Hatshepsut's obelisk, Shoshenq's list of towns and the White Chapel. https://hierolens.com/learn/nefertari-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/nefertari-in-hieroglyphs/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Nefertari's name in hieroglyphics, read sign by sign: the queen of Ramesses II, her temple at Abu Simbel and her painted tomb in the Valley of the Queens. https://hierolens.com/learn/reading-a-stela/ https://hierolens.com/learn/reading-a-stela/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT How to read an Egyptian stela in hieroglyphics: the rounded top, the scene, the offering formula, the owner's name and family, read from the right end. https://hierolens.com/learn/champollion/ https://hierolens.com/learn/champollion/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Champollion and hieroglyphics: how he read the script in 1822, from Ptolemy's cartouche to the name of Ramesses, and what his letter to Dacier showed. https://hierolens.com/learn/pharaohs-of-egypt-in-order/ https://hierolens.com/learn/pharaohs-of-egypt-in-order/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Pharaohs of Egypt in order: the best-known kings from Narmer to Cleopatra VII, period by period, with dates and what each one is remembered for. https://hierolens.com/learn/fifth-dynasty/ https://hierolens.com/learn/fifth-dynasty/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The fifth dynasty of Egypt (c. 2494–2345 BC): Userkaf to Unas, sun temples to Ra, the Abusir papyri, Sahure's reliefs and the first Pyramid Texts. https://hierolens.com/learn/what-is-a-hieroglyph/ https://hierolens.com/learn/what-is-a-hieroglyph/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT What is a hieroglyph? A picture sign of ancient Egyptian writing that stands for a sound, a word or a meaning, used from about 3200 BC to AD 394. https://hierolens.com/learn/egyptian-obelisks-around-the-world/ https://hierolens.com/learn/egyptian-obelisks-around-the-world/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Egyptian obelisks around the world: Rome, Paris, London, New York, Istanbul. Whose names are carved on each, and how it left Egypt. https://hierolens.com/learn/temple-of-seti-i-abydos-guide/ https://hierolens.com/learn/temple-of-seti-i-abydos-guide/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Temple of Seti I, Abydos: its raised reliefs and Ramesses II's sunk ones, the seven chapels, the king list, the Osiris halls and the helicopter signs. https://hierolens.com/learn/tiye-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/tiye-in-hieroglyphs/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep III and mother of Akhenaten: her name read sign by sign, the marriage scarab, her portraits and where to see them. https://hierolens.com/learn/great-pyramid-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/great-pyramid-hieroglyphs/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Pyramid of Giza hieroglyphs: no carved texts inside the Great Pyramid, but red work-gang marks naming Khufu above the King's Chamber, and what they say. https://hierolens.com/learn/hieroglyph-translator/ https://hierolens.com/learn/hieroglyph-translator/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Hieroglyphic translation explained: an app can name signs, kings' names and set phrases. A sentence needs grammar, context and a reader. https://hierolens.com/learn/osiris-in-hieroglyphs/ https://hierolens.com/learn/osiris-in-hieroglyphs/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT How to write Osiris in hieroglyphics: the throne and eye that spell wsjr, his titles Wennefer and lord of Abydos, and where to read his name in Egypt. https://hierolens.com/learn/dahshur-guide/ https://hierolens.com/learn/dahshur-guide/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Dahshur pyramids: Sneferu's Bent and Red Pyramids, the painted gang marks and dates on their blocks, and the Middle Kingdom finds now in museums.