How We Decoded The Hieroglyphs Of Ancient Egypt
History Hit・7 minutes read
Egyptian antiquities were shipped covered in indecipherable hieroglyphic inscriptions; the Rosetta Stone with hieroglyphs, demotic, and ancient Greek inscriptions led Young and Champollion to race to decipher hieroglyphs phonetically, with Champollion eventually decoding Cleopatra's and Ramesses' names, marking a turning point in Egyptology.
Insights
- The Rosetta Stone, discovered by Napoleon's men in 1799, played a crucial role in deciphering hieroglyphs due to its inscriptions in hieroglyphic, demotic, and ancient Greek, leading to Champollion's breakthrough in decoding names like Cleopatra and Ramesses.
- Thomas Young and Jean-Francois Champollion's race to decipher hieroglyphs using the Rosetta Stone shifted Egyptology's focus from treasure hunting to historical understanding, marking a pivotal moment in the field's development.
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Recent questions
What was the significance of the Rosetta Stone?
Key to deciphering hieroglyphs
Who decoded Cleopatra's name in hieroglyphs?
Champollion
What did Thomas Young focus on in deciphering hieroglyphs?
Phonetic values
What was the breakthrough in hieroglyph decipherment by Champollion?
Decoding Ramesses' name
How did the decipherment of hieroglyphs impact Egyptology?
Shifted focus to historical understanding
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Summary
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Deciphering Hieroglyphs: The Rosetta Stone Breakthrough
- Egyptian antiquities were shipped to the West in the 1800s, covered in hieroglyphic inscriptions that were indecipherable.
- Napoleon's men discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799, with inscriptions in hieroglyphic, demotic, and ancient Greek.
- Thomas Young and Jean-Francois Champollion raced to decipher hieroglyphs using the Rosetta Stone, focusing on phonetic values.
- Young identified the name Ptolemy in hieroglyphs phonetically, but Champollion refined his work and decoded Cleopatra's name.
- Champollion's breakthrough came with the name Ramesses, deciphering hieroglyphs systematically in the "Letter to Dacier."
- The decipherment of hieroglyphs by Young and Champollion marked a pivotal moment in Egyptology, shifting focus from treasure hunting to historical understanding.
