An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary Volume 2
Reference Cultural Studies Language Learning Egyptology Historical Linguistics Archaeology Ancient History
An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, Vol. 2 – Dover’s 1978 unabridged reprint of E. A. Wallis Budge’s monumental 1920 reference – remains the most comprehensive English-to-Egyptian word list ever compiled. Running to more than 800 pages, the volume supplies the phonetic spelling, transliteration, and hieroglyphic sign for every entry, followed by citations of the original tomb, temple, or papyrus source. Budge’s system groups words by English meaning rather than Egyptian alphabetical order, so a modern reader can jump straight to “cat,” “gold,” or “justice” and immediately see every hieroglyphic spelling the ancients used. The result is a reverse dictionary that lets students, novelists, tattoo artists, or museum docents locate the exact glyphs they need without first mastering Middle-Egyptian grammar.
What makes this particular copy attractive is its condition: pages are crisp, unmarked, and tightly bound, with only light foxing confined to the top closed edge—cosmetic rather than intrusive. Dover’s sturdy laminated paperback keeps the book shelf-friendly and lightweight, so it travels easily to class or the gallery floor. Because the original 1920 edition was printed in small numbers and most copies were heavily referenced in academic libraries, finding a clean, complete set in the secondary market is increasingly hard; securing Vol. 2 alone in this state is a bonus for collectors who already own Vol. 1.
Beyond its utilitarian value, the dictionary is a window into the mindset of ancient Egypt. Budge’s notes explain when a word could mean both “bread” and “money,” or why the same determinative appears in “scribe” and “magician,” giving readers cultural context alongside linguistic data. Whether you are a Young Adult writing historical fiction, an adult learner tackling a hieroglyphic workbook, or a hobbyist deciphering museum labels, this affordably priced classic offers lifetime access to the language of the pharaohs without the fragile price tag of an antiquarian folio.
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