Question #N151
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone, a large slab of black granite inscribed with three different scripts, was a major breakthrough in the study of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Because the stone contained the same decree written in Greek, Demotic script, and hieroglyphs, scholars could compare the texts and decipher the hieroglyphs for the first time. What is the most likely reason why the Rosetta Stone was so important?
The Rosetta Stone was important because it
A. provided the key to understanding the ancient Egyptian language.
B. revealed the secrets of the Demotic script.
C. showed that the Greek alphabet was based on hieroglyphs.
D. helped archaeologists to find other ancient Egyptian texts.
Correct Answer is: A
The Rosetta Stone was a key to understanding the ancient Egyptian language because it allowed scholars to compare the same decree written in different scripts, including hieroglyphs. This allowed them to decipher the hieroglyphs for the first time, which was a major breakthrough in the study of ancient Egypt.