Demotic script on a replica of the Rosetta stone

For Greek Demotic, see the article Dhimotiki

Demotic referes to both the ancient Egyptian script preceded by hieratic and the late stage of the Egyptian language that the Demotic script was used to write. After the introduction of demotic, hieratic remained in use for religious purposes, while demotic was used for economic and literary purposes. In contrast to hieratic, demotic was often carved into stone and wood.

Demotic was in use by 660 BC and became the dominant script of ancient Egypt by 600 BC. In the early 4th century, demotic was increasingly replaced by Greek; its last known use was in AD 451 upon the walls of the temple of Philae.

Related Articles

• Egyptian hieroglyph
• Egyptian language
• Egyptian languages
• Transliteration of ancient Egyptian

de:Demotisch ko:민중문자 he:כתב דמוטי ja:デモティック pl:Demotyka sv:Demotisk skrift