Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs, which translate from Ancient Greek as sacred writing, provide a pictographic and logographic writing whereas a character may represent a word or a phrase. Although not exclusively Ancient Egyptian, the term is commonly employed to refer to Ancient Egyptian writing. The use and understanding of this type of writing was exclusive to priests and the high spheres of society, hence it is somewhat regarded as a priestly language. It was used as a sort of written incantation endowed with a summoning power and therefore densely used in tombs and other religious contexts.