Introduction to the Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, is one of the most significant artifacts in the history of archaeology. This granodiorite stele provided the crucial key to deciphering the ancient Egyptian script of hieroglyphs, which had been a mystery for centuries. The stone features a decree issued in 196 BC by King Ptolemy V and is inscribed with three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion is Demotic script, and the lower text is Ancient Greek. The significance of the Rosetta Stone lies in the fact that it presented the same text in three different scripts, allowing scholars to compare and ultimately unlock the meaning of hieroglyphs.
