Hieroglyphics, the writing form of ancient Egyptians, came into full and widespread use in 3500 B.C.E. Before the use of papyrus, parchment sheets made from pressed stalks of the papyrus plant, ancient Egyptians carved their ‘writings’ on limestone flakes, pottery, and on stone tablets such as the Rosetta Stone (on public display at The British Museum since 1802), the discovered ancient artifact of dark pinkish-grey granodiorite stone created in 196 B.C. The carved text on the stone is a decree from Ptolemy V, giving instructions to build statues in temples, as well as repealing some taxes.

Hieroglyphic writing was associated with royalty and functioned as some sort of public announcement or information dissemination of their historical participation. At times, these writings were self-aggrandizing descriptions of the items found in their royal tombs.

Hieroglyphic writing was done by the wise men of the kingdom. Most of these inscriptions that became known as Pyramid Texts, or the oldest preserved literature, grew into religious literature as they eventually included guidance guidelines and theological treatises. These texts contain combinations of mythology, magical spells, hymns to the gods, and daily offering rituals.

The contents, themes, and topics of ancient Egyptian literature recorded on papyrus can be generally summarized into three basic categories, all inherently political in nature: the greatness of kings, the wisdom of priests, and guidelines by which ordinary citizens should run their lives.

To stretch the political utility of these ancient documentation efforts, these writings were also meant to glorify the writers of these pieces of literature. The writers, priests and high government officials, also issued guidelines to govern the people of the once flourishing civilization. Ultimately, ancient Egyptian literature is largely political and administrative.

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Via The Egyptian Language/Omniglot