Course Catalogue

Basic Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs (DL) CLASSIC5126

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

From the simple recognition of key hieroglyphic signs to the intricacies of word formation (orthography) and grammar, this course serves as a basic introduction to the Middle Egyptian hieroglyphic script. Our aim is to learn to read a variety of funerary and royal inscriptions, setting examples from these genres within their broader cultural context.

Timetable

10 weekly sessions online comprising of c. 2 hour lectures and follow-up exercises (c. 1 hour each).

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Master's at College level.

Excluded Courses

CLASSIC5094

CLASSIC4089

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Best 3 out of 5 moodle quizzes (vocabulary, grammar) - 20%

■ Unseen translation and commentary exercise - 60%

■ Reflective report (c. 1000 words) - 20%

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the moodle quizzes, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ There is no alternative to the unseen translation and commentary, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ There is no alternative to the reflective report, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to the principles of the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic script, building skills in interpreting orthography and grammar

■ Enable students to read a variety of funerary and royal inscriptions in Middle Egyptian

■ Contextualise primary sources read in the original against their cultural background.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Display a reflective knowledge of the Egyptian hieroglyphic script and the Middle Egyptian language through translation and commentary skills

■ Contextualise funerary and royal texts studied within the broader ancient Egyptian culture, comparing and contrasting different examples

■ Critically analyse key topics in religion and royal culture pertaining to the textual material studied within the course

■ Engage with primary sources and use them to argue opinions.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions