(HI·er·o·GLYPH·ics). A form of ancient writing employing pictorial symbols to represent and convey both sounds and meaning.

Means sacred or priestly writing and refers especially to the picture writing of ancient Egypt (used c. 3000 B.C. to A.D. 4) but also may denote picture writing of other peoples, for example, Hittites.

a system of writing in which many symbols are conventionalized pictures of the thing represented; generally carved in stone or written on papyrus indicators (diagnostic sherds) tell about a vessel because of their distinctive shapes, often pieces of rims or bases

The Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien.