On 27 September 1822, Jean Francois Champollion announced the decipherment of hieroglyphics, which significantly changed Egyptian archeology; for the first time, the archeologists and Egyptologists could read texts inside tombs and temples in Egypt.
His early life
He was born on 23 December 1790 in figeac, one of the modest cities in southeast France; his father was a library owner while his mother was analphabetic and was sick for a long time.
These issues had a significant influence on him; being born in a remote spot, the colossal differences between his parents, the date of born close to the french revolution.!!!
By 1801, he left his figeac to Grenoble, asking for learning with his brother. The latter was the primary source for the champiliion’s interest in Egypt since he wanted to join napoleon’s expedition to Egypt.
Napoleon’s bother Jaque Joseph. Jean francois was known as Lejune the younger. But his brother was not a genius in languages s like jean Francois who was notorious in studies and self-educated; however, the brother Jaque josef had talent in earning a living and supported jean Francois most of his life.
Jaque Josef, in 1802 decided to send his younger brother to a very regarded school where he would stay there till the summer of 1804. in this school, jean Francois found his passion and revealed his genius clearly since he could learn; Latin, greek, and Hebrew in addition to other Semitic languages like Arabic and Syriac. And in this school, he started his interest in ancient Egypt.
At the age of 11, he came to the attention of joseph Fourier, who accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte during his expedition to Egypt, which discovered the rosetta stone, which will be combined with Champollion later.
Joseph Fourier was an accomplished scholar and mathematical physicist, and champillion was still young, just 11 years old. Still, Fourier believed in his genius and entrusted him with the results and studies of the expedition to Egypt, showing him lots of reports about Egypt and hieroglyphic texts and archeology information about Egypt. Fourier became one of Champollion’s supporters in his studies about ancient Egypt.
In 1804 champliion in lycee continued his studies about language and had time to study the Coptic language, which helped him later decipher the ancient hieroglyphics. During his study, he had a chance to practice his Coptic with a former Christian monk who was the translator of Napoleon Bonaparte during his expedition to Egypt. Jean Francois then had a strong interest in ancient Egypt.
In 1807 he moved to parise through the decision and support of his older brother to continue his study under the direction of Silvestre di sasy, who was the first Frenchman who attempted to study rosetta stone. He also contacted other orientalists who helped him to acquire ancient Egypt.
He divided his time between; college of France, particular school oriental languages, and his brother’s library. He was immersed in this study even he dressed in oriental clothes.
In 1808 he started independently to study rosetta stone by depending on a copy of rosette, and finally, he could identify 15 signs equivalent present in demotic on rosetta stone.
In 1810 he was appointed as an assistant professor in the reopened university in Grenoble. But his health deteriorated because of the climate in Paris.
Decipherment of the Hieroglyphic.
Many details are so complicated about the decipherment of hieroglyphics with his rivals and support, which made great efforts to decipher the texts of hieroglyphics and demotic in rosetta stone, like Silvestre di sacy and Thomas young. Still, Champollion had steps before them in deciphering these ancient Egyptian writings. On 27 September 1822, jean Francois champillion addressed a letter to dacier, an Egyptologist and historian who gave great support to Champollion to reach his goal.
On this day was the meeting between Thomas young and Silvester di sacy and another scholar for the presentation of Champollion, who showed their search results about phonetic signs of the rulers in ancient Egypt.
The scholars included Silvester di sacy and Thomas young, congratulated champillion for his outstanding results, and visited him at home, sharing notes on their studies about the ancient Egyptian language.
Death
Champllipon was died from an apoplectic attack on 4 March 1832 in Paris after returning from his second expedition to Egypt.
He was appointed and chair of Egyptian history and archeology in college de France by decree of king Louise Philip first; he couldn’t give more than three lectures before the illness attack to Champollion.
His body was buried in the largest cemetery in Paris; after his death, his wife constructed a simple obelisk on his tomb.
4 comments
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