The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, was not utilized to decode hieroglyphs for several years.

Napoleon's soldiers discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799.

The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, was not utilized to decode hieroglyphs for several years.
The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799, was not utilized to decode hieroglyphs for several years.

The Rosetta Stone was crucial in deciphering the hieroglyphic writing system, which had been lost for centuries.

It took many years to decipher the stone after it was first discovered.

The British Museum in London, England, has possessed the artifact since 1802, with a brief relocation during World War I for safekeeping.

The Rosetta Stone on display and a photo of Jean Francois Champollion, with The British Museum in the background
The Rosetta Stone allowed researchers to decipher hieroglyphics. Jean-François Champollion announced that he deciphered the message in 1822.  (Han Yan/Xinhua via Getty Images I David Cliff/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images I Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Napoleon Bonaparte's soldiers discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799 while campaigning in Egypt, according to The British Museum.

An ancient wall near the town of Rashid (Rosetta) contained a stone.

According to History.com, the ancient stone was put into British possession in 1801 after the British defeated the French.

Close-up of the Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone was first discovered in 1799.  (AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

The Rosetta Stone has remained in British possession ever since.

The Rosetta Stone is a fragment of a larger stone slab, standing at 44 inches tall and 30 inches wide, as per History.com.

The Rosetta Stone bears the same text in three distinct scripts: Demotic, hieroglyphic, and Greek.

Scholars deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs with the help of the stone, which played a vital role.

Visitors of The British Museum viewing the Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is currently housed at The British Museum in London, England.  (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

The ancient writing system was abandoned after the 4th century A.D. and was forgotten for many years until it was deciphered from an inscription on an ancient artifact.

The Rosetta Stone's message was decoded by a group of scholars working together over an extended period.

An English physicist named Thomas Young was the first to make significant advancements in deciphering the Rosetta Stone.

In 1814, Young deduced that the hieroglyphs within ovals, known as cartouches, represented royal names, as per History.com.

In 1822, French scholar Jean-François Champollion declared that he had successfully decoded the message, basing his work on Young's previous efforts.

A portrait of Thomas Young
Thomas Young played a vital part in deciphering the Rosetta Stone.  (Oxford Science Archive/Print Collector/Getty Images)

The British Museum reports that a decree inscribed on a stone pertains to Ptolemy V Epiphanes, who was the ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Ancient Egypt. The decree, issued by a council of priests, affirmed that "the priests of a temple in Memphis backed the king."

According to Britannica, the stone's decree dates back to 196 B.C. and outlines his achievements, such as reducing taxes and bringing peace to Egypt.

by Ashlyn Messier

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