Dr. David Silverman - National Curator, Advisor and Academic Content Creator for Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs

While writing and art often interrelate in many cultures, the unity of the two is perhaps most integrated and apparent in ancient Egypt. It may well have something to do with the fact that the two-dimensional representations so characteristic of Egyptian art, begin to appear around 3100 BCE- at almost precisely the same time that hieroglyphic writing makes its first appearance - more than 5000 years ago. Born together, these two means of expression continued in complimentary use for more than 3000 years, well into our own era, and produced a uniquely beautiful and intensely meaningful means of communication.