THE GEOMETRIC GRIDS OF THE HIERATIC （僧侣的几何网格）.pdf

Mediterranean Arhaeology and Archaeo etry, Vol. 12, No 1, pp.129-138 Copyright © 2012 MAA Printed in Greece. All rights reserved. THE GEOMETRIC GRIDS OF THE HIERATIC NUMERAL SIGNS Hossam M. K. Abou fotouh Faculty of Environmental Design, King A bdulaziz University, KSA Faculty of Fine Arts, Minia University, Egypt Received: 21/12/2011 Accepted: 24/02/2012 Corresponding author:f otouh@ ail.co haboulf otouh@kau.edu.sa ABSTRACT The paper discusses the geometrical designs o the hieratic numeral signs. It shows the regular-grid-paterns o squares upon which, the shapes o the already decoded hieratic numeral-signs, have been designed. Also, it shows the design o some hieratic numeral signs, based on subdividing the circle; and the hieratic signs o modular notation. It might reveal the basic geometrical level o understanding o anonymous ancient Egyptians who designed them some our thousand years ago. KEYWORDS: Egyptian Mathematics, Rhind Papyrus, Moscow Papyrus, Hieratic Notation, Numbers, Modular Notation 130 HossAM M. K. AboulfotouH 1. INTRODUCTION hieroglyphic writing, Georges I rah (1998, 171) said hieratic signs were indeed de- For almost ourteen decades, great efforts rived rom hieroglyphs; however, he have been done by many scholars in order pointed out to that the relationship be- to interpret and introduce th