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This is the first of three volumes exploring some of the most remarkable insights into Ancient Egypt to have come to light in modern times. The first two volumes deal with the Rosetta Stone, an outstanding archaeological discovery that has supplied the basis for Egyptian decipherment; the final volume explores the "Stele of Canopus", discovered in 1866. The significance of the Rosetta Stone lies in the three different languages that are inscribed onto it: Koine Greek, Demotic Egyptian, and, crucially, Hieroglyphic. This has facilitated a vast increase in our understanding of the sacred language of Ancient Egypt, as well as enhancing our understanding of the nature of kingship at a time of immense cultural transformation. First published in 1904, this reissue provides an accessible general introduction to this fascinating subject, useful for the amateur enthusiast as well as undergraduate students.
List of contents
1. The Discovery of the Rosetta Stone; Appendix to Chapter I: 1. Letter of Major-General H. Turner 2. Matthew Raper’s Account of the Rosetta Stone; 2. Description of the Rosetta Stone and its Contents 3. The Rosetta Stone and its Earliest Decipherers; Appendix to Chapter 3: Ameilhon’s Latin Translation of the Greek Textl Ameilhon’s French Translation of the Greek Text; 4. The Labours of Thomas Young; Appendix to Chapter 4: Young’s Translations of the Demotic and Hieroglyphic Texts; Analysis of the Triple Inscriptions; List of Young’s Works; 5. The Labours of J.F. Champollion 6. The Obelisk at Philae; Greek Texts; Hieroglyphic Text 7. The Rosetta Stone – Hieroglyphic Text 8. The Rosetta Decree – English Translation; Hieroglyphic Text with Transliteration and Translation
About the author
Budge, E. A. Wallis
Summary
This is the first of three volumes exploring some of the most remarkable insights into Ancient Egypt to have come to light in modern times. The first two volumes deal with the Rosetta Stone, an outstanding archaeological discovery that has supplied the basis for Egyptian decipherment; the final volume explores the "Stele of Canopus", discovered in 1866.
The significance of the Rosetta Stone lies in the three different languages that are inscribed onto it: Koine Greek, Demotic Egyptian, and, crucially, Hieroglyphic. This has facilitated a vast increase in our understanding of the sacred language of Ancient Egypt, as well as enhancing our understanding of the nature of kingship at a time of immense cultural transformation.
First published in 1904, this reissue provides an accessible general introduction to this fascinating subject, useful for the amateur enthusiast as well as undergraduate students.
