Famous archeaologists

In 1807 Champollion studied with deSacy. Later he compiled a Coptic dictionary and read the works of Thomas Young, but disagreed with the latter’s view that the writing was alphabetic. Champollion believed that both Demotic and hieroglyphics represented symbols, not sounds. Soon, however, he came to understand that not only were proper names rendered phonetically, but each hieroglyph could represent a sound. Thus he began to compile a hieroglyphic alphabet and in 1822, he identified the name of Rameses II in an inscription from an Abu Simbel temple.

Page from Champollion's notes for Grammaire egyptienne (1836-1841)
Despite some early controversy about not crediting Young for his earlier discoveries, Champollion is generally acknowledged as having ultimately broken the code. He continued his research and in 1824 showed that the glyphs represented sounds as well as concepts, depending on context.

A number of academic achievements distinguished his career. His first papers on hieroglyphics were published in 1821 and 1822. In 1826 he was appointed Conservator of the Musee Egyptien at the Louvre, and 1831 he was named Professor of Egyptian Antiquities, a post created specifically for him, at the College of France. He published a number of works, including an Egyptian grammar and dictionary, the Primer of the Hieroglyphic System, and a book entitled Egyptian Pantheon.

Champollion studied collections of Egyptian antiquities in European museums and led a 14-month expedition in 1828 to Egypt to make a systematic survey of the monuments and copy their inscriptions. After returning in late 1829 he wrote to Egyptian authorities, deploring the deterioration of the monuments and the sale of artifacts. Partly in response, Mohammed Ali Pasha, who had taken power in 1805, issued the Ordinance of 1835, the first law protecting ancient monuments, prohibiting the export of antiquities, and establishing a museum in Cairo to conserve and display materials from excavations.

Although Champollion’s life was cut short in 1823 by a stroke at the age of only forty-two, his work opened the door to a vast and rich body of ancient literature that can now be read and studied. His breaking of the hieroglyphic code alone certainly justifies his title of Father of Egyptology.