Decoding The Secrets Of Eqyptian Hieroglyphs Review

: Symbols that represent specific sounds (like our alphabet).

When Champollion finally understood the logic, he reportedly ran into his brother's office, shouted "I've got it!" and collapsed from exhaustion. How the Script Works Decoding the Secrets of Eqyptian Hieroglyphs

Because scholars could still read Ancient Greek, they finally had a "cheat sheet" to compare against the mysterious symbols. The Rivalry of Geniuses : Symbols that represent specific sounds (like our alphabet)

: An English polymath who first realized that some symbols represented sounds rather than just concepts. He identified the name "Ptolemy" within royal cartouches (oval frames). The Rivalry of Geniuses : An English polymath

: A French linguist who dedicated his life to the task. In 1822, he realized the system was a sophisticated mix of phonetic (sound), ideographic (concept), and determinative (category) signs.

The breakthrough came in 1799 when French soldiers in Napoleon’s army discovered a granite slab in the town of Rashid (Rosetta). This stone featured the same royal decree written in three different scripts: : Used for sacred, formal documents. Demotic : The native daily script of Egypt. Ancient Greek : The language of the ruling administration.