Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone, inscribed basalt slab, discovered in 1799, that provided the key to Egyptian hieroglyphics. About 4 ft (1.2 m) long and 2.5 ft (0.75 m) wide, it is inscribed with identical texts in Greek, Egyptian demotic, and Egyptian hieroglyphs. Found near Rosetta, Egypt, the stone is now in the British Museum.

See also: Egypt, Ancient; Hieroglyphics.