Exhibition on Egyptian hieroglyphs reaches Torquay

Objects on display in the exhibition include an extract from the Book of the Dead

An event showcasing the history of how Egyptian hieroglyphics are deciphered has come to Devon.

The touring exhibition is run by the British Museum and will be at Torquay Museum until 18 February.

Objects on display include an extract from the Book of the Dead and items from the tomb of Seti.

Torquay - which is the last stop on the tour - was picked because of its Egyptology gallery.

Hieroglyphics is an ancient Egyptian language which uses pictures and symbols to describe objects and sounds.

Dr Ilona Regulski, curator of Egyptian written culture at the British Museum, said through the decipherment of hieroglyphs "secrets of one of the world's oldest civilizations were finally unlocked".

"This ground-breaking achievement provided an unprecedented window into the ancient Egyptian people and their way of life.

"We could suddenly understand the letters they wrote, the shopping lists they created and the rituals they left behind on tomb and temple walls."