Quelques observations sur l’écriture rétrograde dans les tombes thébaines de l’époque tardive

Retrograde writing in Theban tombs during Egypt's Late Period serves a functional theological purpose, visually representing the deceased's journey through the Duat and rebirth with the sun god. Unlike conventional hieroglyphic directionality, retrograde script inverts reading sequences—horizontally or vertically—to symbolize this spiritual passage. Analysis of Asasif necropolis tombs reveals that this practice was not merely decorative but integral to expressing eschatological beliefs, providing tangible evidence for how ancient Egyptians conceptualized the afterlife. The study combines epigraphic and iconographic analysis to demonstrate retrograde writing's role in funerary art, offering new insights into Late Period religious practices.

Einaudi, S. (2018). Quelques observations sur l’écriture rétrograde dans les tombes thébaines de l’époque tardive. Trabajos de Egiptología. Papers on Ancient Egypt, (9), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.25145/j.tde.2018.09.02