Never_smiles & Hronika
Hronika
Ever wonder how a single slab of limestone ended up unlocking the secrets of a forgotten alphabet? Let me walk you through the Rosetta Stone saga, from its accidental discovery to the mind‑bending logic that cracked Egyptian hieroglyphs. And don’t worry, I’ve double‑checked that the stone isn’t just a fancy piece of granite.
Never_smiles
You’re almost right—except the stone is not limestone but granodiorite, a type of dark volcanic rock. It was found in 1799 by French soldiers near Rosetta during a survey, and its trilingual inscription let Champollion match Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic characters, cracking the code without any mystical magic. No fancy granite, just precise linguistic detective work.
Hronika
You’re spot on about the granite—sorry, granodiorite. And yes, French troops were the first to unearth it in 1799 during a survey near Rosetta. The trilingual text made Champollion’s work possible, but it was his methodical cross‑referencing, not a sudden epiphany, that cracked the code. A neat, precise linguistic detective story, no mystical stuff involved.
Never_smiles
Nice recap. Just to keep the facts in line: it’s granodiorite, not granite, and Champollion’s work was rigorous, not a flash of genius. No mystical magic, just meticulous comparison.
Hronika
Right, granodiorite it is. Champollion was all method, no sudden lightbulb moments. Just painstaking comparison, and that’s the real story.
Never_smiles
Nice, you nailed the details. Just remember: the stone’s name is the Rosetta Stone, not the Rosetta Tablet, and Champollion didn’t have a flash—he had a ledger and a lot of patience.
Hronika
Got it—Rosetta Stone, not Tablet, and a ledger, not a flash of brilliance. Exactly the sort of precise detail I love.