Tutankhamun's Egypt (1972)

S1E8 The Scribes

Hieroglyphs stand out as one of the most iconic aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization. With their depictions of eyes, hands, and various animal forms, they represent perhaps the most exquisite writing system ever created. However, ancient Egyptian scribes primarily utilized these symbols and their derivative scripts for practical functions. On papyrus, they compiled extensive records, financial accounts, calculations, and bookkeeping. These scribes played a crucial role as the administrative foundation of a well-structured state apparatus. This insight was provided by Cyril Aldred from the Tutankhamun Exhibition at the British Museum.