Unit 3- Central Ideas & Purpose- Riddle of the Rosetta Stone

Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, by James Cross Giblin.

De Sacy, Akerblad, Young, Champollion, and others all made some progress in translating the demotic passage. But the first scholar who fully understood the symbols in the demotic text was a German, Heinrich Karl Brugsch, who published a translation of it, with commentary, in 1850. An even more thorough version was published by another German scholar, Dr. J. J. Hess, in 1902.

The details from the excerpt best support the idea that

• Champollion was the most well-known scholar to work on the Rosetta Stone translation.

• translating the demotic text on the Rosetta Stone took the work of many scholars.

• the demotic text on the Rosetta Stone would still be a mystery without the work of Dr. J. J. Hess.

• the best translation of the demotic text on the Rosetta Stone was in German.

To identify the central idea of a text, it is most helpful to

• ask what information is missing from the text.

• think about how to summarize the text.

• determine whether the facts in the text are accurate.

• find out information about the author of the text.

When identifying the central idea of a text, it is most helpful to notice the

• repetition of ideas.

• quotations of experts.

• definitions of difficult terms.

• organization of the text.

Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, by James Cross Giblin.

The hieroglyphic passage took the longest to translate, partly because the hieroglyphs were the least understood of the three languages, and partly because so much of the text was missing. Champollion succeeded in deciphering a large part of the passage, but the meaning of many hieroglyphs was still unknown when he did his major work in the 1820s.

Which line from the excerpt best states the central idea?

• The hieroglyphic passage presented the biggest challenge of the three inscriptions.

• Most of Champollion’s major work was accomplished in the 1820s.

• Champollion’s persistence helped him decipher a large part of the hieroglyphic passage.

• Hieroglyphs were the least understood because scholars had misinterpreted their meaning.

Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, by James Cross Giblin.

Then, in 1887, yet another copy of the decree—this one almost intact—was unearthed in the ruins of a temple in Lower Egypt. Now, for the first time, scholars had a version of the hieroglyphic text that they could compare line-for-line with the Greek and demotic versions.

New translations of the hieroglyphic text were made in France and Germany, and an excellent English one appeared in 1904. A few sections still remain unclear, though. This makes present-day experts hope that an even more complete copy of the hieroglyphic inscription may yet be found, somewhere in Egypt.

The central idea of this excerpt is that a greater understanding of the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone became possible because

• it was translated into English.

• present-day experts came up with a new theory.

• a Greek version was discovered.

• an almost complete copy was discovered.

Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, by James Cross Giblin.

WITH PROPITIOUS FORTUNE: It was resolved by the priests of all the temples in the land to increase greatly the existing honors of King PTOLEMY, likewise those of his parents, and of his ancestors, and to set up in the most prominent place of every temple an image of the EVER-LIVING King PTOLEMY, THE BELOVED OF PTAH, THE GOD EPIPHANES EUCHARISTOS, an image which shall be called that of "PTOLEMY, the defender of Egypt," beside which shall stand the principal god of the temple, handing him the weapon of victory;

The central idea of the excerpt is that King Ptolemy will be

• buried with his parents and ancestors.

• honored with an image in all temples.

• spoken of only in temples.

• given weapons as gifts.

Refer to the excerpt of the decree inscribed on the Rosetta Stone as it appears in The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone.

Which detail best supports the central idea that King Ptolemy was generous to his people?

• He was the son of King Ptolemy and Queen Arsinoe.

• He gave from his own wealth to benefit Egyptians.

• The priests of all the temples paid homage to his image.

• The decree was inscribed on a slab of hard stone.

Which line from the decree on the Rosetta Stone in The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone best supports the idea that Ptolemy was a defender of his country?

• It was resolved by the priests of all the temples in the land to increase greatly the existing honors of King PTOLEMY

• he provided that cavalry and infantry forces and ships should be sent out against those who invaded Egypt by sea and by land

• and being benevolently disposed toward the gods, has dedicated to the temples revenues in money and grain

• and whereas those who were in prison and those who were under accusation for a long time, he has freed of the charges against them

Which line from the decree on the Rosetta Stone in The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone best supports the idea that Ptolemy was generous?

• he provided that cavalry and infantry forces and ships should be sent out against those who invaded Egypt by sea and by land

• in return for which things the gods have given him health, victory, and power, and all other good things

• and of the revenues and taxes levied in Egypt some he has wholly remitted and others has lightened, in order that the people and all the others might be in prosperity during his reign

• an image which shall be called that of "PTOLEMY, the defender of Egypt," beside which shall stand the principal god of the temple, handing him the weapon of victory

Read the excerpt from the decree inscribed on the Rosetta Stone, which appears in The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, by James Cross Giblin.

and whereas he has directed that impressment for the navy shall no longer be employed; and whereas he provided that cavalry and infantry forces and ships should be sent out against those who invaded Egypt by sea and by land, laying out great sums in money and grain in order that the temples and all those who are in the land might be in safety; in return for which things the gods have given him health, victory, and power, and all other good things, and he and his children shall retain the kingship for all time.

How do the details in the excerpt support the central idea that Ptolemy was a great king?

• They provide specific examples of Ptolemy’s greatness.

• They make a comparison of Ptolemy to other rulers.

• They create an image of Ptolemy as having great physical strength.

• They show a pattern of Ptolemy invading other countries by sea and by land.