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Student Article

How We Deciphered Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs

By: Andrew Robinson
Originally Published in  Science Focus

The ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs remained a mystery for centuries until the Rosetta Stone provided the key to deciphering them, unlocking the secrets of a lost civilization.

The article "How We Deciphered Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs" from BBC Science Focus explains how archaeologists deciphered ancient Egyptian writing using the Rosetta Stone. It describes the efforts of scholars like Thomas Young and Jean-François Champollion, who unlocked the phonetic and symbolic meanings of hieroglyphs, enabling the translation of ancient texts and revealing insights into Egyptian history and culture.
Student Article Info

BBC's Science Focus is packed with news, discoveries, ideas and innovations to keep you up-to-speed with the complexities of the fast-moving world around us. Learn more about subscriptions here.

Grades:
3-56-89-12
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Life Science
Keywords
hieroglyphsRosetta Stoneancient EgyptEgyptian historyChampolliondecipheringGreek languagelanguagesscript
A stone with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs
© Getty

Most passages are available in three different versions: Level 1 (Grade 3-5), Level 2 (Grade 6-8), and Level 3 (Grade 9-12). Some more complex texts are available only in Level 2 and Level 3. Use the versions that are most appropriate for the students in your class.

Note: The BBC Learning Hub Editorial Team made use of AI tools to create multiple versions of this article, each tailored to different student reading levels. Every version undergoes a thorough review by our BBC Learning editors to ensure accuracy, quality, and appropriateness.

1
Level 1 Reading Passage
Grades: 3-5Lexile Level: 600-800L
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2
Level 2 Reading Passage
Grades: 6-8Lexile Level: 900– 1100L
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3
Level 3 Reading Passage
Grades: 9-12Lexile Level: 900 – 1200L
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