Rosetta Stone - 196 BC
Rosetta Stone
Object record
Genre
Civilization
Culture
Ptolemaic
Period
Hellenistic
Date
196 BC
About
The Rosetta Stone is arguably the most famous piece of rock in history. A granodiorite fragment of a larger stele, it bears a priestly decree issued at Memphis in three scripts: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic, and Ancient Greek. This linguistic trifecta provided the essential key for Jean-François Champollion and Thomas Young to crack the code of hieroglyphics, unlocking three millennia of Egyptian history that had been silenced for centuries. Its journey from a temple wall to a fortress foundation, and finally to the world's stage, makes it a true icon of human discovery.
Alternate title
The Memphis Decree
Inscription(s)
A decree issued by a council of priests confirming the royal cult of Ptolemy V Epiphanes on the first anniversary of his coronation.
Type of work
Material
Granodiorite
Dimensions
H: 112.3 x W: 75.7 x D: 28.4 x Weight: 760 cm
Collection
Provenance
Originally displayed in a temple (possibly at Sais); moved to Rosetta and used as building material in Fort Julien (Mamluk period); discovered by French officer Pierre-François Bouchard in 1799; surrendered to British forces under the Treaty of Alexandria in 1801; moved to the British Museum in 1802.
Institution
Location
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Accession
BM24
Copyright status
public_domain
Copyright
© The Trustees of the British Museum
References
Authority files
Wikidata: Q48584
VIAF: 184000414
