Hieroglyph Flashcards
why was it possible for Young + Champollion to translate section of hieroglyph inscription?
as greek text could be read, it was possible to translate section of inscription, a number that repeatedly appeared was Ptdemais (pharaoh of egypt)
what did Young + Champollion discover in hieroglyphic section?
certain words enclosed in oval rope loops called cartouches - believed to surround name of King or Queen
whose name did Young + Champollion recognise?
Pharaoh Ptolemais could be recognise in cartouche - hieroglyphs for his name worked out from this
when was Young + champillions belief about hieroglyphic letters confirmed?
saw inscription on obelisk containing names - Ptolemy/Cleopatra
when did 1st writing form appear?
in Mesopotamia in 3500BC, approx. 300 yrs before Egyptian hieroglyphs
which 2 ancient pharaoh's names did Champillion recognise?
-more inscriptions from Egyptian temples were compared with letters on rosetta stone-inscriptions contained names of 2 ancient pharaohs (Romesses, Thutmoses)-By 1822, he knew he was on right track-died before he could finish, other continued his work, now ancient Egyptian language can be sufficiently understood
what happened after hieroglyph code broken?
-good historians never accept any written or archaeological source at face value-every historian must ask Q's to help determine reality of source
was evans ever able to decipher hieroglyphs?
no, deciphered by michael ventris in 1953
hieroglyphics
mini pics used by ancient Egyptians to record language
where does the word hieroglyphic come from?
2 greek words meaning sacred carvings
at 1st, what did the hieroglyphic pics stand for?
what they represent - these are called ideograms
what were hieroglyphic pics usually carved on?
stone with chisel or carefully drown with paint + ink on prepared walls of tombs + temples
what happened as need for written records increased? (hieroglyphics)
more signs needed to stand for signs, called phonograms, some stand for letters of alphabet while others stand for 2 or more letters
key to hieroglyphic writing discovered?
-french solider digging at fort at rossetta in delta of the nile, found black basalt stone in 1799-rosetta stone was inscription in honour of pharaoh called Ptolemy Epiphones - was written in 3 languages (hieroglyphs + 2 shorthand versions of hieroglyphs called demotic & greek)
who achieved the breakthrough of understanding hieroglyphs?
thomas young (english men)Jean Francois Champollion (french men)
what did champillion realise hieroglyphic signs stood for? (hieroglyphs)
letters + alphabet for sounds
what steps did people use to decipher writing codes?
-look for similarities in known languages which involved trial and error
in mesopotamia area (now iraq)...
tens of thousands of clay tablets with wedge shaped marks - until last century, their meaning was puzzle
egypt was only civilisation to...
have writing form which needed to be decoded