Cracking Ancient Codes: Egyptian Hieroglyphs - with Andrew Robinson

The Royal Institution・2 minutes read

The text discusses how various scholars like Thomas Young and Jean-Francois Champollion decoded ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, with Champollion making significant breakthroughs in deciphering cartouches and identifying ancient Egyptian rulers like Seti I and Ramses II. Champollion's tireless work and collaboration with others in the field led to his pivotal role in the study of Egyptology, culminating in his appointment as the world's first professor of Egyptology and leaving behind a lasting legacy despite his untimely death in 1832.

Insights

  • Alessandro Ricci, a former medical doctor turned artist, contributed to an exhibition at the Egyptian Hall in 1821 by painting hieroglyphs and the vulture goddess Nekhbet, showcasing the fusion of art and Egyptomania during that period.
  • Jean-Francois Champollion's groundbreaking decipherment of hieroglyphs, culminating in identifying Seti I as the tomb's occupant, demonstrates the pivotal role of the Rosetta Stone and his meticulous analysis of cartouches, leading to a significant advancement in understanding ancient Egyptian scripts.

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Recent questions

  • Who deciphered hieroglyphs?

    Champollion

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Summary

00:00

Egyptian Hall Exhibition: Unveiling Ancient Mysteries

  • The Egyptian Hall, a unique building in Piccadilly, inspired by Egyptomania, housed a remarkable exhibition in 1821 featuring a scale model of an Egyptian tomb and full-size reproductions of tomb chambers from the Valley of the Kings.
  • Alessandro Ricci, a little-known Italian artist and former medical doctor, painted vulture goddess Nekhbet and cartouches with hieroglyphs in the exhibition.
  • A sarcophagus made of alabaster, carved with hieroglyphs in Egyptian blue, was a highlight of the exhibition, later sold to architect John Soane for 2,000 pounds.
  • Giovanni Belzoni, a circus strongman turned Egyptologist, discovered a tomb in 1817, believed to be that of Psammis, an early Egyptian ruler.
  • Thomas Young, a polymath known for his work in various fields, speculated on Psammis as the tomb's occupant, inspiring further research.
  • Jean-Francois Champollion, a key figure in deciphering hieroglyphs, made significant progress in reading cartouches of late Egyptian rulers like Alexander, Cleopatra, and Ptolemy.
  • Champollion's breakthrough in decipherment led to identifying the tomb's occupant as Seti I, father of Ramses II, using the Rosetta Stone as a crucial tool.
  • Jacques-Joseph Champollion, Jean-Francois's elder brother, played a pivotal role in his upbringing and scholarly pursuits, fostering his passion for ancient Egypt.
  • Joseph Fourier, a mathematician and physicist, supported Jean-Francois's education, introducing him to Coptic and ancient languages, crucial for his later decipherment work.
  • Fourier's involvement in editing the Description de l'Egypte, based on Napoleon's Egyptian expeditions, exposed the Champollion brothers to ancient Egyptian monuments, fueling their interest in the subject.

15:50

Deciphering Hieroglyphs: Champollion's Breakthrough in Paris

  • Silvestre de Sacy was a professor at the School of Oriental Languages in Paris, where Champollion was his student.
  • De Sacy and Champollion had a complex relationship, with de Sacy having ambitions to decipher hieroglyphs using the Rosetta Stone.
  • The Rosetta Stone, with Greek at the bottom, hieroglyphs at the top, and Demotic in the middle, was crucial for deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts.
  • Champollion began studying the Rosetta Stone in 1808 but faced setbacks due to political turmoil, including Napoleon's return in 1815.
  • Thomas Young, a scholar in London, published an article in 1819 comparing hieroglyphs and Demotic signs, suggesting a mixed script with phonetic elements.
  • Young's work led to comparisons between Greek names and hieroglyphs, providing phonetic values for certain signs.
  • Young's analysis of 80 Demotic words with hieroglyphic equivalents was mostly accurate, showing progress in deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts.
  • Champollion faced challenges in France, including a blunder in a booklet claiming no phonetic values in hieroglyphic signs, leading to his departure to Paris in despair.
  • In Paris, Champollion studied Young's work and made a breakthrough in 1822 by analyzing Cleopatra's cartouche, comparing Egyptian signs with Greek phonetic values.
  • Champollion's analysis of Cleopatra's cartouche revealed common signs with Ptolemy's, despite some differences, showcasing progress in deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts.

30:48

Champollion's Deciphering of Egyptian Hieroglyphs

  • Champollion deciphers the cartouche of an early Egyptian ruler Ramses, using the symbols for "re" and "S-S" to identify it as Ramses' cartouche from Abu Simbel.
  • He recognizes a sign in the middle of the cartouche as the one he saw on the Rosetta Stone, translating to "genethlia" in Greek and "mise" in Coptic, speculating it represents the letter M or MS.
  • Champollion announces his breakthrough in deciphering hieroglyphs on September 14, 1822, at the Institute of France, claiming to read alphabetic hieroglyphs of Greek and Roman rulers of Egypt.
  • He publishes a significant speech, "Lettre a Monsieur Dacier," in October, detailing his progress in reading hieroglyphs and presenting a table of phonetic signs.
  • Champollion becomes curator of Egyptian antiquities at the Louvre in Paris in 1826, funded by the King of France for an expedition to Egypt in 1828, accompanied by Ippolito Rosellini.
  • The expedition sails up the Nile, stopping at various sites to study monuments and inscriptions, validating Champollion's decipherment system.
  • Champollion returns to Paris in 1829, continuing to work on organizing his findings and publications, appointed as the world's first professor of Egyptology at the College de France in 1831.
  • Despite suffering from deteriorating health, Champollion collaborates with his brother on Egyptian grammar until his death in 1832, leaving behind a legacy in the field of Egyptology.
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