Tristan Hughes

So we have this anonymous publication in the late 1810s, nearly 1820.

Guessing Champollion, he gets a copy of it, and the Rosetta Stone is proving important.

But is it also important to highlight that at this time there are other objects, other people are working on things which ultimately will contribute to this hieroglyphic decipherment going further?

In the exhibition, and I'm guessing it feels like we probably should mention the name William Banks.

Is he one of these figures?

He also plays a key role in communicating with young, I'm guessing also Champollion as well, from his ventures.

And what he brings back at that time, is it also important to mention that part of the story?

The name Cleopatra, so they now know the hieroglyphic cartouche for two key figures there with Ptolemy and Cleopatra.

So how does this therefore ultimately result in the big Eureka breakthrough of Champollion?

And that's the famous letter with the ultimate decoding of the hieroglyphs.

So in regards to all of that, the Rosetta Stone, this renowned object, how significant is it in the whole deciphering of hieroglyphs?

It seems to be important, but not the only object that ultimately contributes to that big breakthrough.

The Kickstarter.

I mean, Elena, just before we completely wrap up, I'd love to ask also about the legacy of this decoding.

And I know that's something you get across in the exhibition too.

I mean, because the reaction to this script being deciphered, what is the reaction in the whole world, in Britain, in France, and so on and so forth?

Once this decipherment has been made, is it almost like the curse has been revealed and there's lots of Egyptomania and does that start really taking root?

Presumably, I'm guessing as the news spreads and the resistance decreases, it allows these academics and others from all across the world to start re-examining objects that had already been discovered.

For instance, those other objects that were taken to the British Museum at the same time as the stone.

and tomb of alexander not the tomb of alexander and it turned out was it for example yeah um i was in um karnak not too long ago and walking through that incredible place and like hieroglyphics everywhere and talking to someone who just knew what every hieroglyph was and what it meant it just reinforces i know the decipherment was some 200 years ago but just how