To read or not to read? The Greek view of Egyptian hieroglyphs and the principles of the ancient art of memory
Abstract
.The article focuses on Greek and Latin interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphs and its similarity and possible relation to the classical art of memory and the (almost lost) methods of Greek mnemonics. The first part points to the differences between the Egyptian and Greek view on script and written sources, based mostly on mythological stories about the origin(s) of writing.
The next part briefly explains the ancient interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphs, focusing on Horapollo's Hieroglyphica and other sources. The third and last part of the study considers a possible relation of that interpretation to the art of memory.
The mechanisms of creating images in ars memoriae, of Egyptian hieroglyphs and the Greek interpretation of them are compared and possible a (re)-use of hieroglyphic signs in some form of Greek mnemonics is suggested