The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele discovered in 1799, which was inscribed with three versions of a decree issued at Memphis, Egypt in 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The decree appears in three scripts: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek. This discovery was pivotal in understanding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Study Guide

1. Discovery: The Rosetta Stone was discovered by French soldiers during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt. It was found in the town of Rashid (Rosetta) in the Nile Delta.
2. Inscription: It contains a decree issued by King Ptolemy V in 196 BC, praising the king and listing the various achievements and honors bestowed upon him.
3. Three Scripts: The decree is inscribed in three scripts: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script (a cursive script used for everyday purposes), and Ancient Greek.
4. Impact: The Rosetta Stone allowed scholars to decipher the hieroglyphic script, which had been indecipherable for over a thousand years. This breakthrough opened up the study of ancient Egyptian history, literature, and religion.
5. Current Location: The Rosetta Stone is currently housed in the British Museum in London, where it has been on display since 1802.

Studying the Rosetta Stone is essential for understanding the history of ancient Egypt and the development of language and writing systems. It remains one of the most famous and important artifacts in the field of Egyptology.