Expressing Respect in the Ancient Egyptian Language

There are several hieroglyphics, terms, and expressions in the ancient Egyptian language referring to respect and obedience. Religious books, literary works, accompanying texts of wall scenes, statues, ostraca and stelae include texts explaining different attitudes and ways of expressing respect. Hieroglyphic signs referring to respectful attitudes were used as ideograms or determinatives for several words and appeared as large figures in different representations on walls of tombs and temples. Furthermore, some of these hieroglyphics were depicted in the ancient Egyptian sculpture in royal and private statues such as the sign of a seated man with raised hands up-wards. This article explains how ancient Egyptians expressed respect in their language from the Old Kingdom till the New Kingdom through different examples from the ancient Egyptian texts.