“To speak the name of the dead is to make them live again.” – Ancient Egyptian saying
Rediscovered two millennia after its creation, the Rosetta Stone provided two brilliant scholars with the key to unlocking the history of ancient Egypt.
Series References and Further Reading:
Hi Scott, I was an avid listener of your Ancient World podcast and I just wanted to say it's great to have you back!
This episode was a very interesting glance at all the hard work that must have been necessary in order to bring us to the level of historical knowledge we have today. It's amazing to think that without all that work and a fair share of luck, we would still be "in the dark" about so many things of our own past.
Anyways, thanks for spreading the knowledge… again! Looking forward to the next episode.
Hi Sam! Of course I remember you, thanks for being a long-time listener. I agree – it's hard to imagine that next to nothing was known about so many ancient civilizations until the last one or two centuries. And yes, I'm sure there are other discoveries waiting out there that will open up new ancient civilizations for us to study. Glad you're enjoying the new series. Very excited about the next one, which I'm planning to record today. I'd never heard of Carsten Niebuhr before I started researching this series – he was a pretty amazing guy! Take care – Scott C.
I wholeheartedly second your recommendation of Robin Waterfield's Dividing The Spoils.
Though I'm mostly just posting to say that it's great to have you back in the world of podcasting, even if it's just for a mini series (it's a great idea for a mini series as well).
It was a great book. Thanks for the kind words, and glad you're enjoying the new series! Scott C.
Wow, this was fascinating.
You have managed to encompass such a time span, go through the history of Egypt, show us the place of the Mameluks and end up with Champolion’s trip to Egypt in a masterly way. Such vast period of time, so many subjects, and you’ve made a logical whole out of them.
Chapeau bas!!!
Ivonna
Thanks!!! Glad you enjoyed it!