Riddle of the Rosetta: How an English Polymath and a French Polyglot Discovered the Meaning of Egyptian Hieroglyphs

In 1799, a French Army officer found an ancient stele fragment with a decree inscribed in three different scripts. This book provides a new account of how Thomas Young and Jean-François Champollion vied to be the first to solve the riddle of the Rosetta Stone, reflecting broader disputes about language, historical evidence, biblical truth, and the value of classical learning.

Format: Hardback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In 1799, a French Army officer was rebuilding the defenses of a fort on the banks of the Nile when he discovered an ancient stele fragment bearing a decree inscribed in three different scripts. This remarkable discovery marked the beginning of one of the most captivating tales in Egyptology, known as the story of the Rosetta Stone and the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs. This book, written by Jed Buchwald and Diane Greco Josefowicz, offers a fresh and comprehensive account of how the English polymath Thomas Young and the French philologist Jean-François Champollion competed to be the first to unravel the mystery of the Rosetta.

Buchwald and Josefowicz skillfully bring to life a bygone era of intellectual adventure, delving into the broader disputes that surrounded the race to decipher the Rosetta Stone. This endeavor went beyond a mere decoding exercise centered on a single artifact; it reflected broader conflicts about language, historical evidence, biblical truth, and the value of classical learning. The authors paint compelling portraits of Young and Champollion, two gifted intellects with entirely different motivations. Young, disdainful of Egyptian culture, viewed Egyptian writing as a gateway to greater knowledge about Greco-Roman antiquity. On the other hand, Champollion, caught up in the political turmoil of Restoration France and fiercely opposed to scholars aligned with the throne and altar, had a deep admiration for ancient Egypt and was willing to challenge conventional wisdom to solve the riddle of the hieroglyphs.

The Riddle of the Rosetta takes readers on a journey from the quiet lecture rooms of the Institut de France to the awe-inspiring monuments of the Valley of the Kings. It reveals the untold story behind one of the most thrilling discoveries of the nineteenth century, shedding light on the intricate interplay of intellect, culture, and politics that shaped the course of history. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Egyptology, history, or the fascinating human quest for knowledge.

Weight: 1112g
Dimension: 166 x 243 x 48 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691200903