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Demotic script on a replica of the Rosetta stone
Demotic is the ancient Egyptian script preceded by
hieratic. 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
451 AD upon the walls of the temple of Philae.
Demotic is also the English form of the name
Dhimotiki.
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