The Rosetta Stone: Discovery and Decoding Ancient Languages

Champollion’s cross-referencing technique allowed him to develop a working hieroglyphic alphabet. His true eureka moment came in September 1822, when he realized that the hieroglyphic spelling of “Ramses”—a traditional Egyptian name—was made up of symbols that all corresponded to spoken sounds. By applying these same phonetic symbols to other words on the Rosetta Stone that weren’t enclosed in cartouches, he made a discovery that had eluded all previous scholars. Rather than a purely symbolic script, hieroglyphics included both conceptual symbols and phonetic signs.

Depending on their context, the symbols in the script could represent entire words and phrases or individual components corresponding to the sounds of spoken language. According to legend, Champollion was so floored by his revelation that he raced to his brother’s office and screamed, “I’ve done it!” before fainting.

Once he hit on its phonetic properties, Champollion was able to begin unraveling the mysteries of hieroglyphics. Following several years of additional study, he published research that outlined the underlying principles of the Egyptian writing system. Armed with his new knowledge, he made a pilgrimage to Egypt, where he became the first known person in more than 1,400 years to read the inscriptions on ancient Egyptian tombs and monuments.

“Before Champollion, the ancient voices from the ancient world that could be heard were from Greece, Rome and the Bible,” historian John Ray writes The Rosetta Stone and the Rebirth of Ancient Egypt. “Now the Egyptians were beginning to speak with their own voice.”