They are the educated class in ancient Egypt. The priests conducted religious ceremonies, the scribes also kept all the records. They could come from any social class, giving people in lower classes the chance to move up in the classes. To become a scribe you had to go to a special school for scribes. In this school they taught you how to read and write hieroglyphics. Priests were usually chosen by the Pharaoh. Only scribes and priests were taught how to read and write. The priests and scribes were the only educated people. The Pharaoh was the person who ruled the priests and scribes. Scribes came from wealthy families. They were also well educated in mathematics. The scribes wrote on a type of clay. Above the craftsmen was the scribes. They kept records and wrote letters for the Pharaoh. Priests conducted religious ceremonies, kind of like a church ceremony.