DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0218
APPLICATION OF SYSTEM TO NATIVE NAMES. 201
stride ; but it soon became evident that it was capable of still
further extension. A cursory glance on the Bosetta stone
shows that the mass of hieroglyphs of which the inscription is
composed are the same as those used in the names of the
foreign rulers of Egypt, arranged in different order in groups.
For example; in the cartouche or ring, which encloses the name
of Ptolemy is a group "orllt the' two first hieroglyphs of
which are those of Ptolemy; viz., P T. jSTow in the Greek
version it states that Ptolemy is beloved by PHTHA—in
Coptic PTAH; consequently the third or last hieroglyph
was an H. By applying this principle to the various hiero-
glyphic groups in texts, a number of Coptic words were
discovered, besides the names of deities, persons, and places
of ancient Egypt. And extending it to the cartouches of
the older kings, it soon appeared that phonetic hieroglyphs
were not, as Young, and even Champollion himself, had at
first supposed, an innovation adopted under the foreign rulers,
but a continuance of the old system. Thus, f» \\ Khuvu
{Cheops), and Psemetik (PsammeticJius), (°y_jC^J| were only
part of the same system of writing. These hieroglyphs,
indeed, were mixed up with many, ideographical or symbolic;
but the development of the important fact in the decipher-
ment gradually revealed the whole grammar and system of
the language, and placed the future inquirer on the route
for the decipherment and interpretation of the whole. By
these means the great problem was worked out in all its
essentials in eight years by the indefatigable and wonderful
genius of Champollion ; and during his lifetime no one can be
stride ; but it soon became evident that it was capable of still
further extension. A cursory glance on the Bosetta stone
shows that the mass of hieroglyphs of which the inscription is
composed are the same as those used in the names of the
foreign rulers of Egypt, arranged in different order in groups.
For example; in the cartouche or ring, which encloses the name
of Ptolemy is a group "orllt the' two first hieroglyphs of
which are those of Ptolemy; viz., P T. jSTow in the Greek
version it states that Ptolemy is beloved by PHTHA—in
Coptic PTAH; consequently the third or last hieroglyph
was an H. By applying this principle to the various hiero-
glyphic groups in texts, a number of Coptic words were
discovered, besides the names of deities, persons, and places
of ancient Egypt. And extending it to the cartouches of
the older kings, it soon appeared that phonetic hieroglyphs
were not, as Young, and even Champollion himself, had at
first supposed, an innovation adopted under the foreign rulers,
but a continuance of the old system. Thus, f» \\ Khuvu
{Cheops), and Psemetik (PsammeticJius), (°y_jC^J| were only
part of the same system of writing. These hieroglyphs,
indeed, were mixed up with many, ideographical or symbolic;
but the development of the important fact in the decipher-
ment gradually revealed the whole grammar and system of
the language, and placed the future inquirer on the route
for the decipherment and interpretation of the whole. By
these means the great problem was worked out in all its
essentials in eight years by the indefatigable and wonderful
genius of Champollion ; and during his lifetime no one can be