An Ancient Egyptian Mathematical Photo Album: Samples of Numeral Hieroglyphs by Location

Most people would expect to find Egyptian hieroglyphs in ancient temple ruins in Egypt. However, Egyptian hieroglyphs can also be found in museums around the world. Many world history and art museums have Egyptian collections, in which hieroglyphs can be found on pieces of walls, sarcophagi, stelae, vessels, papyri, statues, jewelry, and other objects. In fact, one way to apply this article with students is to explore those collections during in-person or virtual field trips.

The following pages highlight artifacts marked with hieroglyphic numerals that are held in five locations visited by the author:

• Edfu Temple

• Kom Ombo Temple

• British Museum
  • Rosetta Stone
  • Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
  • Stela of Merymose’s Campaign Against the Nubians

• Louvre
  • Annals of Thutmose III
  • Cubit Rod
  • Sculptures of Scribes and Examples of Scribal Tools

• Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy
  • Cubit Rods
  • Amduat Papyrus

Images of each location retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.

Continue to Edfu Temple page.