This word confusion hieroglyph vs petroglyph vs pictograph is all about using images to communicate. All three originated thousands of years ago.
Considering the definitions of petroglyph and pictograph, hieroglyphs are a combination of both, for hieroglyphs are sometimes carved into a wall and sometimes painted. The difference is that hieroglyphs are placed on monuments.
Petroglyphs are images that are carved into rocks.
Pictographs are images representing words or phrases. In prehistoric days, pictographs were painted on stone and “typically found only in caves or other areas where they can be protected from the elements of sunshine, wind-blown sand and precipitation” (See). Today, pictographs are also emoticons and symbols representing data.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Hieroglyph | Petroglyph | Pictograph |
|---|---|---|
Hieroglyphs on a Temple Wall is in the public domain, via Pxfuel. |
_Petroglyphs_Wadi_Methkandoush_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg)
Gatti Mammoni Petroglyphs, 2007, Wadi Methkandoush in the Tadrart Acacus region of Libya, by Luca Galuzzi is under the CC BY-SA 2.5 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — This style of petroglyphic carving is known as Meercatze. |
Deluge Shelter Pictograph, National Parks Gallery, is in the public domain, via Picryl. |
| Part of Grammar: | ||
| Noun
Plural: hieroglyphs |
Noun
Plural: petroglyphs |
Noun
Plural: pictographs |
| A stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and other writing systems | An image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art, especially a prehistoric one | A pictorial symbol for a word or phrase
A diagram representing statistical data by pictorial forms |
| Examples: | ||
| We found hieroglyphs describing the Mayan calendar.
Hieroglyphs apparently arose in the late predynastic period (just before 2925 BCE) Editors). Hieroglyphs were used in four different ways: purely pictorial, represent or imply another word suggested by the picture, as representatives of words that shared consonants in the same order, and/or standing for individual or combinations of consonants (Editors). |
Petroglyphs existed in many cultures, from Australian Aborigines to prehistoric Scandinavians.
“The cave walls feature petroglyphs, which are carved into the rock, Davis told the hikers, his words echoing off the cavernous walls” (Jayswal). “The oldest known prehistoric art is the series of petroglyphs discovered during the 1990s in two ancient quartzite caves in India: the Auditorium Cave at Bhimbetka and a rock shelter at Daraki-Chattan” (Bhimbetka). One of the largest petroglyph sites in North America is the Petroglyph National Monument, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago (Indigenous). |
Pictographs were used as the earliest known form of writing, examples having been discovered in Egypt and Mesopotamia from before 3000 BC.
They had discovered an ancient pictograph of the Great Goddess. “According to Emojipedia — the preeminent source for emoji meanings and news — the little sideways ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing) pictograph takes home the coveted ‘World Emoji Lifetime Achievement Award’, among other kudos this year” (Jolly). Pictographs in maths are typically used in concepts like data handling, by laying the foundation for data interpretation based on pictorial information (Pictographs). |
| Derivatives: | ||
| Adjective: hieroglyphic, hieroglyphical Adverb: hieroglyphically Noun: hieroglyphic |
deriv | Adjective: pictographic Noun: pictogram (maths), pictography |
| History of the Word: | ||
| It’s a Greek translation, sacred carving, of the Egyptian phrase the god’s words and was used at the time of the early Greek contacts with Egypt to distinguish the older hieroglyphs from the handwriting of the day (demotic). | Mid-19th century, from petro- (rock) + the Greek glyphē (carving). | Mid-19th century, from the Latin pict- (painted) (from the verb pingere) + -graph. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Hieroglyph vs Petroglyph vs Pictograph
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Apple Dictionary.com
“Bhimbetka Petroglyphs.” Art Encyclopedia. n.d. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/prehistoric/bhimbetka-petroglyphs.htm>.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Hieroglyph.” Britannica. 5 Sept 2023. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/hieroglyph>.
“An Indigenous Cultural Landscape of Sacred Symbols.” Petroglyph. National Park Service. n.d. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm>.
Jayswal, Palak. “Amangiri, Near Lake Powell, Incorporates Native Culture in Its Guest Experiences. Is It Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation?” The Salt Lake Tribune. 14 Aug 2023. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2023/08/14/can-tourism-indigenous-culture/>.
Jolly, Jennifer. “World Emoji Day: Celebrate with the Most-used Emojis of the Year — and What’s Coming Next.” USA Today. 17 July 2023. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2023/07/17/world-emoji-day-2023-list-of-most-used-emojies/70419464007/>.
Manaher, Shawn. “Petroglyph Vs. Hieroglyph: Meaning And Differences.” The Content Authority.com. n.d. Accessed 15 Sept 2023. <https://thecontentauthority.com/blog/petroglyph-vs-hieroglyph>.
Merriam-Webster: pictograph
“Petroglyph.” Wikipedia. 3 Sept 2023. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroglyph>.
“Pictographs.” Cuemath. n.d. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://www.cuemath.com/data/pictographs/>.
“See Ancient Petroglyphs and Pictographs in Utah National Parks.” My Utah Parks.com. 16 Dec 2022. Accessed 15 Sept 2023. <https://www.myutahparks.com/things-to-do/attractions/utah-petroglyphs-pictographs/>.
“What is the Difference Between Hieroglyphics and Petroglyphs?” Study.com. n.d. Accessed 14 Sept 2023. <https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-the-difference-between-hieroglyphics-and-petroglyphs.html>.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Hieroglyphs From the Tomb of Seti I by John Bodsworth and courtesy of the British Museum is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Horse Petroglyph, Dinosaur National Monument, by BLM Colorado is under the Public Domain Mark 1.0 license, via Gary Stockbridge. Cave Painting is under the CC0 license, via RawPixel.com. Phone Pictograph is in the public domain, via PublicDomainVectors.org.
