Rosetta Stone
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What is Rosetta stone?


The Rosetta Stone is a language-learning software program designed to help learners acquire new languages. The program utilizes interactive activities, audio recordings, and pictures to help users learn new words and phrases in foreign languages. The software also contains speech recognition technology, which allows users to practice their pronunciation and receive feedback from native speakers. Rosetta Stone is available in more than 30 languages and is suitable for users of all abilities, from beginners to advanced learners.


Original stone


A granodiorite stele, which is a type of igneous rock. It is approximately 114 cm (45 in) high, 72 cm (28 in) wide, and 28 cm (11 in) thick. It weighs approximately 760 kg (1,676 lbs). Its surface is covered with text written in three languages:Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Ancient Greek . The text is inscribed in a form of Egyptian and Greek called "boustrophedon," which means that the text is written in alternating directions.




Memphis decree and its context


The Memphis Decree is an ancient Egyptian document that was issued by Pharaoh Ptolemy V in 196 BC. It was discovered in 1799 near the city of Memphis, Egypt, and is now known as the Rosetta Stone. The Memphis Decree is written in three scripts: Egyptian hieroglyphs, Egyptian demotic, and Greek. This is significant because these three scripts correspond to three different levels of Egyptian society: royalty, priests, and ordinary citizens. The presence of all three scripts on the Rosetta Stone made it possible for scholars to decipher hieroglyphs, which had been lost for centuries.

The Memphis Decree itself is a royal decree issued by Pharaoh Ptolemy V in 196 BC. It establishes a series of taxes and rewards various temples throughout Egypt. It also establishes the cult of Ptolemy V, and declares him as the son of the sun god, Ra. The Memphis Decree is an important document in the context of the Rosetta Stone because it was the key to understanding the hieroglyphs that were inscribed on the stone. The presence of all three scripts on the Rosetta Stone gave scholars the ability to compare the scripts and decipher the hieroglyphs. This allowed scholars to gain access to the ancient Egyptian language, and to learn more about the culture and history of ancient Egypt.


Rediscovery of Rosetta Stone


In 1799, the Rosetta Stone was discovered in the Egyptian town of Rosetta by French soldiers. The stone was a large slab carved with three different scripts, including Ancient Greek and hieroglyphics. It was vital in deciphering the meaning of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, as the Ancient Greek on the stone provided the key to understanding the symbols. After Napoleon's defeat in Egypt, the stone was taken to Britain where it has been housed in the British Museum since 1802.

Rosetta stone from French to British possession:


The Rosetta Stone is an ancient artifact, inscribed with a decree issued in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V of Egypt. It is one of the most famous artifacts in the British Museum's collection and is a vital historical object which helped scholars decipher the hieroglyphic writing of ancient Egypt.


Reading the Rosetta stone


The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian artifact discovered in 1799 by French soldiers that helped scholars to finally figure out how to read hieroglyphics.


    It is a black granodiorite stela, or stone slab, inscribed with three translations of a single passage.


  • One in hieroglyphics.

  • One in demotic script.

  • The last in Ancient Greek.

The inscription is a decree from the Egyptian priests of Memphis,praising Ptolemy V for his generosity and kindness to the people of Egypt.
The importance of the Rosetta Stone is that it finally allowed scholars to decipher hieroglyphics, as the same passage was written in three different languages. By comparing the three translations, scholars could figure out what different symbols meant in each language. This breakthrough allowed them to read hieroglyphics and unlock ancient secrets that had been hidden in the language for centuries. The Rosetta Stone is now housed in the British Museum in London, and is one of the most famous artifacts in the world. It is a symbol of the power of knowledge and understanding, and a reminder of the importance of preserving our past.

Greek Text

The Greek text of the Rosetta Stone is a royal decree from Ptolemy V Epiphanes, issued in 196 BC at Memphis, Egypt. It is written in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest is Ancient Greek. The decree concerns the repeal of various taxes and the liberation of some religious ceremonies and temples.

Demotic Text

The decree of Ptolemy V, Epiphanes, son of Ptolemy IV, and of Queen Cleopatra I, his mother, given in the ninth year, the sixth of the month of Phamenoth.

The Rosetta Stone is a fragment of a larger stele written in 196 BC. It is written in three scripts: The upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek. This provided the key to deciphering hieroglyphs. The inscription records a decree that was issued at Memphis, Egypt in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree concerns the repeal of various taxes and instructions to temple priests.

Hieroglyphic Text

The decree of Memphis, the most-holy city, the great metropolis of Egypt, the place of the Residence of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Men-maat-Ra, Son of Ra, the Lord of the Two Lands, given to the priests, the prophets, and the people, from the House of Life, to be established for ever.

The later work and rivalries:

In the late 19th century, Rosetta Stone experienced a resurgence in popularity. This was due in part to the rise of the "English language" as an international language. As a result, more and more people were looking for ways to learn English, and Rosetta Stone was one of the most popular options. However, Rosetta Stone also faced a number of rivals. The main competitor was English-language instruction software developed by the British Council, which was released in the early 1990s. This software was much more comprehensive than Rosetta Stone, and also had the advantage of being officially endorsed by the British government.



Archaeologists contributing to the Rosetta Stone Project
Thomas Young

In 1801 Young was appointed professor of natural philosophy (mainly ...
jean francois champollion

who has studied ancient Egypt will be familiar with Jean ...
Books Related to Rosetta Stone


The Rosetta Stone and the Rebirth of Ancient Egypt (Wonders of the World) Written By John Ray .


A wonderful introduction not only to the Rosetta Stone and its story, but also to the growth and development of modern Egyptology.

Discovery Of Rosetta Stone
Discovery at Rosetta: The Stone that Unlocked the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt Written by Jonathan Downs.


The gripping tale of the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, the artifact that opened up ancient Egypt and triggered a struggle for cultural supremacy.

Rich Resources over the web on Rosetta Stone


Egyptian hieroglyphics had been used by the Egyptians for thousands of years. However, a particularly bleak period of Egyptian history is the conquest of Egypt by Persia.

"Deciphering the Middle Text of the Rosetta Stone", supported by Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 2003 - 2005.

The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799 at Rashid in the Nile delta area during a military construction project.
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