How were hieroglyphs arranged and read in ancient Egyptian inscriptions?

In ancient Egyptian inscriptions, hieroglyphic writing was preferentially oriented from right to left. The direction of reading is determined by the orientation of the signs, which typically face toward the beginning of the text.1

Inscriptions were arranged in either horizontal rows or vertical columns, a flexibility that allowed for the decoration of monumental walls, doorways, and lintels. To maintain a visual sense of axial balance, temples and tombs often featured texts facing in both directions. In scenes involving human or divine figures, the text was closely associated with the figures, with the signs oriented in the same direction as the figure itself.1

While the standard reading direction was right to left, religious conventions sometimes influenced placement. For instance, symbols with positive religious significance, such as those representing gods or the king, were often placed in front of other signs even if they were intended to be read after them. Additionally, while rare, individual signs were sometimes reversed for specific decorative or religious purposes.21