The Rosetta Stone
Dan Snow's History Hit
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Deciphering the Rosetta Stone
The chapter explores the importance of the Rosetta Stone in unlocking the mysteries of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs by comparing inscriptions in ancient Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphs. It details the origins and content of the stone's decree recognizing the divine status of King Ptolemy V, shedding light on government and society in Ptolemaic Egypt. The chapter highlights the stone's rediscovery by Napoleon's armies and its crucial role in proving that hieroglyphs were a writing system, not just symbols.
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