DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0049
CHAMPOLLION LE JEUNE.
41
hieratic, as it is called, which we will explain presently; but
now, leaving these, his whole attention was directed to the
hieroglyphics; and it was in this work that he reared for
himself an enduring renown.
It is pleasant to remark, in tracing the progress of the
human mind in any discovery, the seemingly fortuitous con-
currence of circumstances which not unfrequently sheds un-
expected light on the path of the discoverer, and without
which, to all human seeming, the discovery would, probably,
not then have been made. Champollion, in determining to com-
mence with the hieroglyphics, knew full well what others had
done. Dr. Young had steadily expressed his belief, that all
Egyptian writing originated in the hieroglyphics, and there-
fore must contain symbolic signs ; and not, simply, the alpha-
betic characters which Akerblad had found in the enchorial
inscriptions: this principle he had endeavored to apply to the
hieroglyphic names of kings, and had read " Ptolemy" and
"Berenice." Dr. Young, however, never had explained the
method by which he had proceeded. Beyond these particu-
lars, Champollion derived no aid from him. Having, however,
from Young's success, become satisfied of the importance of
the royal rings containing proper names, he turned to them.
It so happened that as early as 1816, Caillaud, the French tra-
veller, who discovered Meroe, had met at the island of Philae
with a small obelisk, which was first discovered by Belzoni.
On the pedestal of this obelisk is a Greek inscription, in which
occur the names of Ptolemy and Cleopatra. Caillaud made a
fac-simile of this inscription; and afterward, an English gen-
tleman, Mr. William Bankes, transported the monument itself to
his residence in Dorsetshire, and circulated copies of its hiero-
glyphic inscriptions among the learned. Both Young and
41
hieratic, as it is called, which we will explain presently; but
now, leaving these, his whole attention was directed to the
hieroglyphics; and it was in this work that he reared for
himself an enduring renown.
It is pleasant to remark, in tracing the progress of the
human mind in any discovery, the seemingly fortuitous con-
currence of circumstances which not unfrequently sheds un-
expected light on the path of the discoverer, and without
which, to all human seeming, the discovery would, probably,
not then have been made. Champollion, in determining to com-
mence with the hieroglyphics, knew full well what others had
done. Dr. Young had steadily expressed his belief, that all
Egyptian writing originated in the hieroglyphics, and there-
fore must contain symbolic signs ; and not, simply, the alpha-
betic characters which Akerblad had found in the enchorial
inscriptions: this principle he had endeavored to apply to the
hieroglyphic names of kings, and had read " Ptolemy" and
"Berenice." Dr. Young, however, never had explained the
method by which he had proceeded. Beyond these particu-
lars, Champollion derived no aid from him. Having, however,
from Young's success, become satisfied of the importance of
the royal rings containing proper names, he turned to them.
It so happened that as early as 1816, Caillaud, the French tra-
veller, who discovered Meroe, had met at the island of Philae
with a small obelisk, which was first discovered by Belzoni.
On the pedestal of this obelisk is a Greek inscription, in which
occur the names of Ptolemy and Cleopatra. Caillaud made a
fac-simile of this inscription; and afterward, an English gen-
tleman, Mr. William Bankes, transported the monument itself to
his residence in Dorsetshire, and circulated copies of its hiero-
glyphic inscriptions among the learned. Both Young and