The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is the sort of artefact that makes history fascinating. It is amazing to behold, has a fascinating story and a controversial past, and is the key to the mystery of hieroglyphics.

The Rosetta Stone has inscribed on it a decree by priests honouring Ptolemy V, who was 13 at the time. The inscription is in hieroglyphic and demotic - both scripts of the Egyptian language - and Greek. Comparing the known Greek with the hieroglyphs with some remarkable talent became the key to deciphering the written language of hieroglyphs.

The Rosetta Stone can be seen for free at the British Museum. I highly recommend it.

You could also read Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure, a manga comic book featuring the Rosetta Stone.