The Uncommon Depiction of Left-Handed Writing through Scribe Scenes in Ancient Egypt

Document Type : Original Research

Author

Lecturer, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Alexandria University

Abstract

The ancient Egyptian civilization continues to reveal its influence on our contemporary society's intellectual and cultural heritage. The ancient Egyptian art is known for its symbolism and artistic principles, but it also contains realistic elements that reflect the actual conditions and practices in society. The ancient Egyptians noticed certain innate traits that appeared from birth and became more apparent with age, such as dwarfism, disabilities, and blindness. One of the most significant observations was the natural tendency to write with the left hand instead of the right hand, which was more common. The researcher was particularly intrigued by certain scenes of scribes in ancient Egyptian private tombs. What stands out is the occasional depiction of scribes writing with their left hand. Though these instances are rare, they reflect the realism of Egyptian art and the essence of ancient Egyptian society. Thus, this paper aims to shed light on these scenes in the context of cultural heritage. This research will also explore the rationale behind using the left hand for writing, supported by recent studies on brain function and left-hand dominance. Additionally, it will examine the status of left-handers in contemporary society and the challenges they face.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics