The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele that was discovered in 1799 by French soldiers near the town of Rosetta (Rashid) in Egypt. It features the same text inscribed in three scripts: Greek, Demotic, and Hieroglyphic. The stone was key to understanding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs because scholars could compare the known Greek language with the hieroglyphic script. Its discovery marked a turning point in Egyptology and the study of ancient Egyptian language and culture.

Source A: Excerpt from a history of Egyptology

'The Rosetta Stone provided the breakthrough needed to decipher hieroglyphics, which had remained a mystery for centuries...' Provenance: Academic publication, 19th century.

Timeline Activity:

• 1799: French soldiers discover the Rosetta Stone during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign.
• 1802: The British seize the stone and it is moved to the British Museum.
• 1822: Jean-François Champollion announces he has deciphered hieroglyphics, using the Rosetta Stone.
• 19th century: Egyptology develops rapidly as scholars understand more about ancient Egypt.

Source B: Excerpt from a history textbook

'The decipherment of hieroglyphics was a major breakthrough in understanding ancient Egyptian civilization...' Provenance: Modern educational publication.

Hieroglyphic writing developed over centuries in ancient Egypt. It was used mainly for religious and monumental inscriptions. The script combined logographic and alphabetic elements, making it complex but precise. Over time, different types of scripts evolved, including hieratic and demotic, which were used for everyday purposes.

Source C: Excerpt from an Egyptology guide

'Hieroglyphics served as a sacred language, with a complex system of symbols representing sounds and ideas...' Provenance: Educational resource on Egyptian writing.

The decipherment of hieroglyphics opened up a vast amount of knowledge about ancient Egypt, including their religion, politics, and daily life. It allowed historians and archaeologists to translate inscriptions on temples, tombs, and artifacts, greatly expanding our understanding of this ancient civilization.

Source D: Excerpt from a modern history of Egypt

'The Rosetta Stone unlocked a treasure trove of information, transforming our understanding of ancient Egypt...' Provenance: Contemporary historical analysis.