What were the major forms of literature and writing in Ancient Egypt?

In Ancient Egypt, the major forms of literature and writing included hieroglyphics, hieratic script, and demotic script.

Hieroglyphics were the most well-known form of writing in Ancient Egypt. They consisted of a complex system of pictorial symbols that represented words, sounds, and ideas. Hieroglyphics were primarily used for monumental inscriptions, such as on temple walls and tombs, and were often associated with religious and royal texts.

Hieratic script was a simplified version of hieroglyphics that was used for everyday writing. It was written with a brush or reed pen on papyrus or ostraca (pottery shards). Hieratic script was mainly used for administrative and business purposes, as well as for religious and literary texts.

Demotic script was a cursive script that developed from hieratic script and was used for everyday writing from around the 7th century BCE. It was easier and faster to write than hieratic script, making it more accessible to a wider range of people. Demotic script was used for legal documents, letters, and literary texts.

Apart from these writing systems, Ancient Egyptians also produced a wide range of literature, including religious texts, historical accounts, wisdom literature, and poetry. Some of the most famous literary works from Ancient Egypt include the Pyramid Texts, the Book of the Dead, the Instructions of Ptahhotep, and the love poetry of the New Kingdom. These texts provide valuable insights into the beliefs, values, and daily life of the ancient Egyptians.