Egyptian hieroglyphics were a formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians. Hieroglyphics were made up from logographic and alphabetic elements. The word hieroglyph comes from two Greek words meaning sacred and writing, or sacred cravings and refers to the picture writing associated with ancient Egypt. When the hieroglyphics were written out in cursive that meant it was a religious literature and it was written either on papyrus or wood. Papyrus is a material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant, used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on and also for making rope, sandals, and boats. Hieroglphs were called, by the Egyptians, " the words of God" and were used mainly by the priests. These drawn symbols were great for decorating the walls of the temples but for the every day to day use there was another script, known as the hieratic. This was a handwriting in which the picture signs were abbreviated to be reduced.