The term "hieroglyph" literally translates to "sacred engravings." Initially, the Egyptians only utilized hieroglyphs for inscriptions carved or painted on temple walls. This style of graphic writing was also found on tombs, papyrus sheets, wooden boards coated with a stucco wash, potsherds, and limestone pieces. The Egyptians developed several techniques for carving hieroglyphics onto stone. Hieroglyphics were used as a means of communication and record-keeping in Egypt. They were used to tell stories, explain religious practices, and honor important people and events. The ancient Egyptians created many different types of hieroglyphs, some that look like letters we know today and others that are purely symbolic. There are two main categories of hieroglyphs: phonetic and non-phonetic. Phonetic hieroglyphs represent sounds that can be translated directly into English. These include pictures of animals, objects, and plants that share similar features or attributes. For example, a picture of a snake has the same meaning as the word "snake." Semantic hieroglyphs do not have a direct translation but instead refer to general concepts such as death, love, war, etc. Some examples include an eye and a feather which when combined mean "sight" and "vision." Besides telling stories and recording history, the Egyptians used hieroglyphics to decorate their graves.