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The Rosetta Stone Says What? The Fascinating Story Behind the Inscription

Dean Butler

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The Rosetta stone says WHAT? The fascinating story behind the inscription

by Michelle Down

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The Rosetta Stone is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in history. It was found in 1799 by French soldiers in the town of Rosetta, Egypt. The stone is inscribed with a decree from the Ptolemaic king Ptolemy V Epiphanes, written in three scripts: hieroglyphics, demotic, and Greek. The Greek text was quickly deciphered, and it provided the key to understanding the other two scripts.

The Rosetta Stone is a large, black stone slab, measuring about 114 centimeters high, 72 centimeters wide, and 28 centimeters thick. It is made of a type of granite called granodiorite. The text on the stone is written in three columns. The first column is in hieroglyphics, the second column is in demotic, and the third column is in Greek.

The hieroglyphic text is the most difficult to read. It is written in a complex system of symbols that represent words, syllables, and individual sounds. The demotic text is written in a cursive script that is more easily read than hieroglyphics. The Greek text is written in a clear and concise script that is easily understood.

The text on the Rosetta Stone is a decree that was issued by Ptolemy V Epiphanes in 196 BC. The decree commemorates the coronation of Ptolemy V and his wife, Cleopatra I. It also outlines a number of reforms that Ptolemy V implemented, including tax breaks and the establishment of new temples.

The Rosetta Stone was a major breakthrough in the study of ancient Egypt. It provided the key to understanding hieroglyphics, which had been a mystery for centuries. The stone also helped to shed light on the history and culture of ancient Egypt.

The Rosetta Stone is now on display in the British Museum in London. It is one of the most popular exhibits in the museum, and it continues to fascinate visitors from all over the world.

The Decipherment of the Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone was deciphered by a team of scholars led by the French Egyptologist Jean-François Champollion. Champollion began working on the Rosetta Stone in 1822, and he finally succeeded in deciphering the hieroglyphic text in 1824. Champollion's work was a major breakthrough in the study of ancient Egypt, and it opened up a new world of knowledge about the ancient Egyptians.

Champollion's work was based on the assumption that the hieroglyphic text on the Rosetta Stone was a phonetic script. This meant that the symbols represented sounds, rather than words or syllables. Champollion was able to identify a number of phonetic symbols in the hieroglyphic text, and he used these symbols to decipher the rest of the text.

Champollion's work was a major breakthrough, but it was not the end of the story. Scholars have continued to study the Rosetta Stone and the hieroglyphic script, and they have made significant progress in understanding the ancient Egyptian language. Today, we can read and understand a large number of hieroglyphic texts, and we have a much better understanding of the history and culture of ancient Egypt.

The Rosetta Stone Today

The Rosetta Stone is one of the most important artifacts in the world. It is a symbol of the power of human knowledge and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. The stone continues to be studied by scholars, and it continues to fascinate visitors from all over the world.

The Rosetta Stone is a reminder that the past is always with us. It is a reminder that we can learn from the past, and that we can build on the achievements of our ancestors. The Rosetta Stone is a symbol of hope and inspiration, and it is a reminder that anything is possible if we set our minds to it.

The Rosetta stone says WHAT? The fascinating story behind the inscription

by Michelle Down

4.8 out of 5