The document discusses the writing system of ancient Egypt known as hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics originated as pictorial carvings used for ceremonial and permanent messages, including on monuments and tombs, as the Egyptians believed the texts would guide the dead. Though the meaning of hieroglyphics was unknown for over 1800 years after Egypt's fall, the Rosetta Stone's discovery in 1799 and subsequent decoding in 1822 revealed hieroglyphics consisted of over 750 signs including pictures, sounds, and word combinations, and the language could be written horizontally or vertically.