DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0050
42
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
Champollion were acquainted with this monument. To the
latter only was it of any value in interpretation. He observed
on it hieroglyphics in a ring, precisely similar to those on the
Rosetta stone, which Young had interpreted to mean Ptolemy;
the Greek inscription led him to suspect that the other ring
must contain the name of Cleopatra. The result of his inves-
tigation may best he told in his own words, as contained in a
letter to M. Dacier: we prefix copies of the two sets of hiero-
glyphics to make his letter intelligible.
This hieroglyphic Dr. Young had inter-
preted, on the Rosetta stone, to be the name
of Ptolemy.
Champollion, proceeding on the opinion that the
characters within the ring might be, in some instances
at least, phonetic or alphabetic, thus felt his way to
the truth.
« The first sign of the name of Cleopatra, which re-
presents a kind of quadrant, and which ought to be the
letter K, (C)* should not occur in the name of Ptolemy, and it
is not there. The second, a crouching lion, which should re-
present the L, is identical with the fourth of Ptolemy, which is
also an L. The third sign is a feather or leaf, which should
represent the short vowel E. Two similar leaves may be ob-
served at the end of the name of Ptolemy, which, by their
position, must have the sound of E long. The fourth charac-
ter to the left, represents a kind of flower or root with its stalk
bent downward, and should answer to the letter 0, and is
accordingly the third letter in the name of Ptolemy. The fifth,
to the right, is a sort of square, which should represent the let-
ter P, and it is the first in the name of Ptolemy. The sixth,
* The Greek Alphabet has no C in it; K is its substitute.
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
Champollion were acquainted with this monument. To the
latter only was it of any value in interpretation. He observed
on it hieroglyphics in a ring, precisely similar to those on the
Rosetta stone, which Young had interpreted to mean Ptolemy;
the Greek inscription led him to suspect that the other ring
must contain the name of Cleopatra. The result of his inves-
tigation may best he told in his own words, as contained in a
letter to M. Dacier: we prefix copies of the two sets of hiero-
glyphics to make his letter intelligible.
This hieroglyphic Dr. Young had inter-
preted, on the Rosetta stone, to be the name
of Ptolemy.
Champollion, proceeding on the opinion that the
characters within the ring might be, in some instances
at least, phonetic or alphabetic, thus felt his way to
the truth.
« The first sign of the name of Cleopatra, which re-
presents a kind of quadrant, and which ought to be the
letter K, (C)* should not occur in the name of Ptolemy, and it
is not there. The second, a crouching lion, which should re-
present the L, is identical with the fourth of Ptolemy, which is
also an L. The third sign is a feather or leaf, which should
represent the short vowel E. Two similar leaves may be ob-
served at the end of the name of Ptolemy, which, by their
position, must have the sound of E long. The fourth charac-
ter to the left, represents a kind of flower or root with its stalk
bent downward, and should answer to the letter 0, and is
accordingly the third letter in the name of Ptolemy. The fifth,
to the right, is a sort of square, which should represent the let-
ter P, and it is the first in the name of Ptolemy. The sixth,
* The Greek Alphabet has no C in it; K is its substitute.