Divergent Skills. Exactly how many people in ancient Egypt could read and write is still largely a matter of conjecture. The first problem to face is precisely what is meant by "literacy." Undoubtedly, there were many levels of literacy. Some people could barely manage to read or write their own names. Others might be able to read a personal letter or simple list. At the highest level were skilled scribes who could read and write the most complex documents and had a thorough knowledge of secular and religious literature in Egypt. Finally, there were periods when even well-educated persons could read and write in one Egyptian script, but not in others. Many persons who could read and write Demotic for everyday purposes (such as the composition of personal letters, business accounts, or tax receipts), for example, probably had little or no knowledge of...