1. The Tri-Scriptual Decree
The Rosetta Stone is famous for its parallel texts. The decree is inscribed in three distinct scripts: ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Egyptian Demotic script, and ancient Greek. This tripartite inscription was the fundamental element that allowed scholars to bridge the linguistic gap and understand hieroglyphs. The Greek text, being readily understood, served as the primary reference point for deciphering the other two.
2. Discovery by French Soldiers
The stone was discovered in July 1799 by Lieutenant Pierre-François Bouchard of the French army during Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign. It was found in the port city of Rashid (Rosetta) in the Nile Delta, hence its name. The soldiers were demolishing an old wall to reinforce defenses when Bouchard noticed the stone's significance.
3. A Ptolemaic Dynasty Decree
The text on the Rosetta Stone is a decree issued by a council of priests affirming the royal cult of Ptolemy V Epiphanes on the first anniversary of his coronation. It outlines various benefits the king had bestowed upon the temples of Egypt, solidifying his legitimacy and divine status. The decree dates to 196 BC, during the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history.
4. The Key to Hieroglyphic Decipherment
For centuries, the meaning of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs was lost. The Rosetta Stone, particularly the work of Jean-François Champollion, who published his findings in 1822, provided the breakthrough. By comparing the Greek text with the hieroglyphic and Demotic versions, Champollion was able to identify phonetic sounds and grammatical structures, unlocking the ancient language.
5. The Rosetta Stone's Journey to Britain
Following the French defeat in Egypt in 1801, the Rosetta Stone, along with other antiquities collected by the French, was ceded to the British under the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria. It has been housed in the British Museum in London since 1802, becoming one of its most prized exhibits and a focal point for researchers and visitors alike.
6. Not the Original Slab
The Rosetta Stone that exists today is not the complete decree. It is a fragment of a larger stele. Many other fragments of similar stelae were found in Egypt, but the Rosetta Stone's unique tri-scriptual inscription and its subsequent discovery made it the definitive artifact for decipherment. The original stela was likely much larger and more ornate.
7. A Symbol of Decipherment
Beyond its historical and linguistic importance, the term 'Rosetta Stone' has become a metaphor for anything that is a key to understanding or deciphering complex information. It represents the vital breakthrough needed to unlock hidden knowledge, whether in science, technology, or any other field.