How to Draw a Hieroglyphics

Step 1: The stone slab

Draw a tall box with soft corners, filling most of your paper. This is the stone.

Tip Hieroglyphics are the picture writing of ancient Egypt, carved on stone walls.

Step 2: Two bands

Near the top, start on the left side and draw across. Stop on the right side. Repeat near the bottom.

Step 3: The eye

At the top left draw an eye shape with pointed ends. Colour a round black middle.

Tip Keep the eye in the left half. The right half is for another sign.

Step 4: Eye markings

Draw a curved brow over the eye. Under the eye add a short drop and a tail that curls.

Tip This famous sign is called the eye of Horus.

Step 5: The middle line

Start on the top band, in the middle. Draw a straight line down and stop on the bottom band.

Tip Egyptians often wrote in columns, reading from top to bottom.

Step 6: The ankh

At the top right draw a cross with thick arms and a loop for its top.

Tip The ankh was the sign for life.

Step 7: The snake

In the middle left space draw a wiggly snake: a thin tail, a round head and a dot eye.

Tip The snake sign stood for the sound f.

Step 8: The sun

In the middle right space draw a big round sun.

Step 9: The bird

At the bottom left draw a bird: round head, pointed beak, plump body, tail and 2 legs.

Step 10: The pool

At the bottom right draw a box. Inside it draw 2 wavy lines from side to side.

Tip A box of ripples was the sign for a pool of water.

Step 11: The ground

Draw a ground line under the slab, poking out on both sides.

Step 12: Yellow and orange

Colour the ankh yellow and the sun orange.

Step 13: Sandy stone

Colour the stone between the bands sandy yellow, going around every sign. Leave the eye white.

Step 14: Green and blue

Colour the snake green. Colour the bird, the pool and both bands blue. Your hieroglyphics are done!