From Mysterious Egyptian Symbol to Writing Sign.

The Shift in the Concept of the Hieroglyph in Spanish Written Production

Abstract

 This study examines the evolution of Spanish scholarly interpretations of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing from the 19th century until the publication of the first two original Spanish-language works on Egyptian language and script. In contrast to other European countries, in Spain the notion that hieroglyphs embodied complex and supernatural knowledge endured longer before being abandoned, as evidenced by the bibliographic record. This conceptual shift culminated with the appearance of two seminal publications in 1909 and 1979, authored by Manuel Treviño and Eduardo Alfonso —both associated with theosophical circles— which marked a turning point in the reception of hieroglyphic writing. Nevertheless, neither author has been acknowledged as a precursor of Egyptological studies in Spain.