Help:WikiHiero syntax

"WikiHiero" is a PHP script to render Egyptian hieroglyphs as PNG images. Since Egyptian hieroglyphs are currently only partially supported by Unicode, this is the only way of rendering hieroglyphs in article texts short of uploading custom images.

The script is invoked by the <hiero> tag.

The <hiero> tag produces an HTML table (of class='mw-hierotable') that will separate the surrounding text into paragraphs. For inline WikiHiero images, manually add <div> tags around the paragraph and <span> tags around the hieroglyphs.

For example, the code:

<div>[[Aleph]] is thought to be derived from the West Semitic word for "[[ox]]", and its shape is ultimately based on a [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyph]] depicting an ox's head, <span style="display:inline-block"><hiero>F1</hiero></span>, in Egyptian reading a [[Egyptian biliteral signs|biliteral sign]] with the phonetic value {{lang|egy-Latn|ı͗ḥ}}.</div>

produces:

Aleph is thought to be derived from the West Semitic word for "ox", and its shape is ultimately based on a hieroglyph depicting an ox's head, , in Egyptian reading a biliteral sign with the phonetic value ı͗ḥ.

(If the paragraph is set off with a colon, hash or asterisk, the <div> tags are not necessary.)

Template {{hiero}} is intended for boxes containing hieroglyphic script.

See mw:Extension:WikiHiero for the project page on MediaWiki.

Hieroglyphs

There are two ways of encoding hieroglyphs:

• using Gardiner's sign list code (e.g. A12)
• with the more frequent phonemes (e.g. xA)

Gardiner's sign list

Further information: Gardiner's sign list

A hieroglyph is encoded by:

• a letter that represents the category
• a number that represents rank within the category

NB until the appropriate software is enabled, the encoding will be displayed instead of the hieroglyph.

A. Man and his Occupations

Expected quantity: 55

A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	A6	A7	A8	A9	A10
A11	A12	A13	A14	A15	A16	A17	A18	A19	A20
A21	A22	A23	A24	A25	A26	A27	A28	A29	A30
A31	A32	A33	A34	A35	A36	A37	A38	A39	A40
A41	A42	A43	A44	A45	A46	A47	A48	A49	A50
A51	A52	A53	A54	A55	A56	A57	A58	A59	A60
						A57	A58		A60

B. Woman and her Occupations

Expected quantity: 7

B1	B2	B3	B4	B5	B6	B7	B8	B9	B10
B11	B12	B13	B14	B15	B16	B17	B18	B19	B20
		B13	B14	B15	B16	B17	B18	B19	B20

C. Anthropomorphic Deities

Expected quantity: 9

C1	C2	C3	C4	C5	C6	C7	C8	C9	C10
C11	C12	C13	C14	C15	C16	C17	C18	C19	C20
		C13	C14	C15	C16
C21	C22	C23	C24	C25	C26	C27	C28	C29	C30
C21	C22	C23	C24	C25	C26	C27	C28	C29	C30

D. Parts of the Human Body

Expected quantity: 63

D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D9	D10
D11	D12	D13	D14	D15	D16	D17	D18	D19	D20
D21	D22	D23	D24	D25	D26	D27	D28	D29	D30
D31	D32	D33	D34	D35	D36	D37	D38	D39	D40
D41	D42	D43	D44	D45	D46	D47	D48	D49	D50
D51	D52	D53	D54	D55	D56	D57	D58	D59	D60
D61	D62	D63	D64	D65	D66	D67	D68	D69	D70
			D64	D65	D66	D67	D68	D69	D70

E. Mammals

Expected quantity: 34

E1	E2	E3	E4	E5	E6	E7	E8	E9	E10
E11	E12	E13	E14	E15	E16	E17	E18	E19	E20
E21	E22	E23	E24	E25	E26	E27	E28	E29	E30
E31	E32	E33	E34	E35	E36	E37	E38	E39	E40
				E35	E36	E37	E38	E39	E40

F. Parts of Mammals

Expected quantity: 52

F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	F6	F7	F8	F9	F10
F11	F12	F13	F14	F15	F16	F17	F18	F19	F20
F21	F22	F23	F24	F25	F26	F27	F28	F29	F30
F31	F32	F33	F34	F35	F36	F37	F38	F39	F40
F41	F42	F43	F44	F45	F46	F47	F48	F49	F50
F51	F52	F53	F54	F55	F56	F57	F58	F59	F60
		F53	F54	F55	F56	F57	F58	F59	F60

G. Birds

Expected quantity: 54

G1	G2	G3	G4	G5	G6	G7	G8	G9	G10
G11	G12	G13	G14	G15	G16	G17	G18	G19	G20
G21	G22	G23	G24	G25	G26	G27	G28	G29	G30
G31	G32	G33	G34	G35	G36	G37	G38	G39	G40
G41	G42	G43	G44	G45	G46	G47	G48	G49	G50
G51	G52	G53	G54	G55	G56	G57	G58	G59	G60
				G55	G56	G57	G58	G59	G60

H. Parts of Birds

Expected quantity: 8

H1	H2	H3	H4	H5	H6	H7	H8	H9	H10
								H9	H10

I. Amphibious Animals, Reptiles, etc.

Expected quantity: 15

I1	I2	I3	I4	I5	I6	I7	I8	I9	I10
I11	I12	I13	I14	I15	I16	I17	I18	I19	I20
					I16	I17	I18	I19	I20

J. None

There is no J category, perhaps to avoid confusion with I.

K. Fish and Parts of Fish

Expected quantity: 7

K1	K2	K3	K4	K5	K6	K7	K8	K9	K10
							K8	K9	K10

L. Invertebrates and Lesser Animals

Expected quantity: 7

L1	L2	L3	L4	L5	L6	L7	L8	L9	L10
							L8	L9	L10

M. Trees and Plants

Expected quantity: 44

M1	M2	M3	M4	M5	M6	M7	M8	M9	M10
M11	M12	M13	M14	M15	M16	M17	M18	M19	M20
M21	M22	M23	M24	M25	M26	M27	M28	M29	M30
M31	M32	M33	M34	M35	M36	M37	M38	M39	M40
M41	M42	M43	M44	M45	M46	M47	M48	M49	M50
				M45	M46	M47	M48	M49	M50

N. Sky, Earth, Water

Expected quantity: 42

N1	N2	N3	N4	N5	N6	N7	N8	N9	N10
N11	N12	N13	N14	N15	N16	N17	N18	N19	N20
N21	N22	N23	N24	N25	N26	N27	N28	N29	N30
N31	N32	N33	N34	N35	N36	N37	N38	N39	N40
N41	N42	N43	N44	N45	N46	N47	N48	N49	N50
		N43	N44	N45	N46	N47	N48	N49	N50

O. Buildings, Parts of Buildings, etc.

Expected quantity: 51

O1	O2	O3	O4	O5	O6	O7	O8	O9	O10
O11	O12	O13	O14	O15	O16	O17	O18	O19	O20
O21	O22	O23	O24	O25	O26	O27	O28	O29	O30
O31	O32	O33	O34	O35	O36	O37	O38	O39	O40
O41	O42	O43	O44	O45	O46	O47	O48	O49	O50
O51	O52	O53	O54	O55	O56	O57	O58	O59	O60
	O52	O53	O54	O55	O56	O57	O58	O59	O60

P. Ships and Parts of Ships

Expected quantity: 11

P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7	P8	P9	P10
P11	P12	P13	P14	P15	P16	P17	P18	P19	P20
	P12		P14	P15	P16	P17	P18	P19	P20

Q. Domestics and Funerary Furniture

Expected quantity: 7

Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5	Q6	Q7	Q8	Q9	Q10
							Q8	Q9	Q10

R. Temple Furniture and Sacred Emblems

Expected quantity: 25

R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10
R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	R20
R21	R22	R23	R24	R25	R26	R27	R28		R30
					R26	R27	R28		R30

S. Crowns, Dress, Staves, etc.

Expected quantity: 45

S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S9	S10
S11	S12	S13	S14	S15	S16	S17	S18	S19	S20
S21	S22	S23	S24	S25	S26	S27	S28	S29	S30
S31	S32	S33	S34	S35	S36	S37	S38	S39	S40
S41	S42	S43	S44	S45	S46	S47	S48	S49	S50
					S46	S47	S48	S49	S50

T. Warfare, Hunting, Butchery

Expected quantity: 35

T1	T2	T3	T4	T5	T6	T7	T8	T9	T10
T11	T12	T13	T14	T15	T16	T17	T18	T19	T20
T21	T22	T23	T24	T25	T26	T27	T28	T29	T30
T31	T32	T33	T34	T35	T36	T37	T38	T39	T40
					T36	T37	T38	T39	T40

U. Agriculture, Crafts, and Professions

Expected quantity:

U1	U2	U3	U4	U5	U6	U7	U8	U9	U10
U11	U12	U13	U14	U15	U16	U17	U18	U19	U20
U21	U22	U23	U24	U25	U26	U27	U28	U29	U30
U31	U32	U33	U34	U35	U36	U37	U38	U39	U40
U41	U42	U43	U44	U45	U46	U47	U48	U49	U50
	U42	U43	U44	U45	U46	U47	U48	U49	U50

V. Rope, Fiber, Baskets, Bags, etc.

Expected quantity: 38

V1	V2	V3	V4	V5	V6	V7	V8	V9	V10
V11	V12	V13	V14	V15	V16	V17	V18	V19	V20
V21	V22	V23	V24	V25	V26	V27	V28	V29	V30
V31	V32	V33	V34	V35	V36	V37	V38	V39	V40
									V40

W. Vessels of Stone and Earthenware

Expected quantity: 25

W1	W2	W3	W4	W5	W6	W7	W8	W9	W10
W11	W12	W13	W14	W15	W16	W17	W18	W19	W20
W21	W22	W23	W24	W25	W26	W27	W28	W29	W30
					W26	W27	W28	W29	W30

X. Loaves and Cakes

Expected quantity: 8

X1	X2	X3	X4	X5	X6	X7	X8	X9	X10
								X9	X10

Y. Writings, Games, Music

Expected quantity: 8

Y1	Y2	Y3	Y4	Y5	Y6	Y7	Y8	Y9	Y10
								Y9	Y10

Z. Strokes, Signs derived from Hieratic, Geometrical Figures

Expected quantity: 11

Z1	Z2	Z3	Z4	Z5	Z6	Z7	Z8	Z9	Z10
Z11	Z12	Z13	Z14	Z15	Z16	Z17	Z18	Z19	Z20
	Z12	Z13	Z14	Z15	Z16	Z17	Z18	Z19	Z20

Aa. Unclassified

Expected quantity: 31

Aa1	Aa2	Aa3	Aa4	Aa5	Aa6	Aa7	Aa8	Aa9	Aa10
Aa11	Aa12	Aa13	Aa14	Aa15	Aa16	Aa17	Aa18	Aa19	Aa20
Aa21	Aa22	Aa23	Aa24	Aa25	Aa26	Aa27	Aa28	Aa29	Aa30
Aa31	Aa32	Aa33	Aa34	Aa35	Aa36	Aa37	Aa38	Aa39	Aa40
		Aa33	Aa34	Aa35	Aa36	Aa37	Aa38	Aa39
Aa41	Aa42	Aa43	Aa44	Aa45	Aa46	Aa47	Aa48	Aa49	Aa50
	Aa42	Aa43	Aa44	Aa45	Aa46	Aa47	Aa48	Aa49	Aa50

Phonemes

See also: mw:Extension:WikiHiero/phonemes and Transliteration of Ancient Egyptian

Codes

Codes are characters that:

• Separate hieroglyphs
• Indicate the organization of the hieroglyphs in space (that is, the position of hieroglyphs in a block)

Separator

The official hieroglyph separator is the hyphen character ("-", also called block separator) but you are also allowed to use a space because it is a widespread practice.

Example

correct	A1-B1
allowed	A1 B1
incorrect	A1B1	A1B1

Superposition

To superpose hieroglyphs, use the colon character (":") instead of the hyphen.

Example

normal layout	p-t
superposed	p:t

Juxtaposition

To juxtapose hieroglyphs, use the asterisk character ("*"). Juxtaposing hieroglyphs is only relevant when they are part of a block which is superposed.

Example

normal layout	p-t
juxtaposed (same as normal layout)	p*t
correct	p*t:a
	p*p*p:t*t*t

End of line

To make a new line of text, use the exclamation character ("!"). Normally, the "end-of-line" must be surrounded by separators (as -!-), but space or nothing are also allowed.

Examples

correct	A1-B1-!-C1-D1
allowed	A1-B1 ! C1-D1
allowed although apparently not fully functional	A1-B1! C1-D1

Orientation

Asymmetrical characters may be reversed by appending the virgule /. This does not change the direction of the text.

A few characters may be rotated by appending 'V' for 'vertical'.

A character may be raised or lowered by pairing it with H_SPACE.

Examples

Default	A1-B1-C1-D1
Reversed orientation	A1\-B1\-C1\-D1\
Horizontal (default)	Y1
Rotated (vertical)	Y1V
Inline	G47-Z1
Raised	G47-Z1:H_SPACE

Note that the Gardiner number for the rotated form, "Y1a", is not supported.

Cartouche

A cartouche is created with <-...->.

Examples

Default	<-pr\:aA\->

See also

• Wikipedia:WikiProject Ancient Near East
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Writing systems