Hieroglyphics and Mummies

Ancient Egyptians used a writing system called hieroglyphics. Instead of letters like we use, they drew small pictures and symbols! There were over 700 different hieroglyphic symbols. Some stood for sounds, some stood for whole words. Scribes, the people who could read and write hieroglyphics, were very important and highly respected. They wrote on papyrus, which was paper made from a river plant.