He was often identified with the god Thoth, the inventor of the hieroglyphs. It turns out that not all pharaohs spoke the language of Egypt and could write in it. ... According to his research, however, most pharaohs knew the art of reading and writing. These skills were uncommon in nearby Mesopotamia.

Who could read and write in ancient Egypt?

Scribes were people in ancient Egypt (usually men) who learned to read and write. Although experts believe that most scribes were men, there is evidence of some female doctors. These women would have been trained as scribes so that they could read medical texts.

What did pharaohs write with?

The ancient Egyptians used the distinctive script known today as hieroglyphs (Greek for "sacred words") for almost 4,000 years. Hieroglyphs were written on papyrus, carved in stone on tomb and temple walls, and used to decorate many objects of cultic and daily life use.