Jean-Francois Champollion

Jean-Francois Champollion was a scholar who deciphered the hieroglyphs, unlocking the secrets of ancient Egyptian writing.

## Jean-François Champollion

Portrait of Jean-François Champollion (1831) by Léon Cogniet

### Affiliation

* Science
* Atheism

# Early Life

Jean-François Champollion, born on December 23, 1790, in Figeac, France, was the youngest of seven children. Raised in modest circumstances, he had a challenging family environment, with an alcoholic father, Jacques Champollion, and an absent mother, Jeanne-Françoise Gualieu. His older brother, Jacques-Joseph, played a significant role in his upbringing and education.

In March 1801, Jean-François left Figeac for Grenoble, where Jacques-Joseph lived. Jacques-Joseph supported his education while working at an import-export company, Chatel, Champollion, and Rif. He also had a strong interest in Egypt and had wanted to join Napoleon's Egyptian expedition.

Champollion was often known as "Champollion le Jeune" (the young) due to his brother's greater recognition. Jacques-Joseph, though less linguistically gifted, supported him financially. In November 1802, Jacques-Joseph sent Jean-François to the school of the Abbé Dussert, where he stayed until the summer of 1804. During this period, his linguistic talents became evident as he learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Ethiopic, Arabic, Syriac, and Chaldean.

At age 11, Jean-François came to the attention of Joseph Fourier, the prefect of Grenoble, who had accompanied Napoleon's Egyptian expedition. Fourier was an influential ally and introduced Champollion to Ancient Egyptian artifacts. From 1804, he studied at a lycée in Grenoble but found the curriculum restrictive for his language interests. He developed a strong passion for Coptic and met Dom Raphaël de Monachis, a former Coptic Christian monk and Arabic translator.

By 1806, Jacques-Joseph prepared to bring his younger brother to Paris for further studies. Jean-François expressed his deep interest in Ancient Egypt and the desire to study it thoroughly. He also learned Old Chinese, Avestan, Middle Persian, and Persian before going to Paris in 1807.

# Paris

In Paris, he studied under Silvestre de Sacy, Louis-Mathieu Langlès, and Raphaël de Monachis, furthering his knowledge of Arabic, Persian, and other languages. He immersed himself in his studies, even adopting Arab clothing and the name Al Seghir. He divided his time between educational institutions and the Commission of Egypt, responsible for publishing findings from the Egyptian expedition.

In 1808, Champollion first began studying the Rosetta stone, and with orientalist Louis-Mathieu Langlès, and with Raphaël de Monachis, working from a copy made by the Abbé de Tersan. Working independently he was able to confirm some of the readings of the demotic previously made by Johan David Åkerblad in 1802.

In 1810, Champollion returned to Grenoble as a joint professor of Ancient History at the reopened Grenoble University, though his salary remained modest. Throughout his life, he struggled with poor health, suffering from conditions like gout and tinnitus.

# The Tricolor Uprising

At Grenoble University, Jean-François Champollion joined the order of The Illuminati and became a Atheist, he embraced his role as an educator, sharing his knowledge with eager young minds. His classroom was a place of enlightenment, where the mysteries of the past came alive through his words.

But as the years passed, the political landscape of France shifted, and the Bourbon Royalist regime returned to power under Louis XVIII.

Champollion's heart still beat to the rhythm of the tricolor, a symbol of liberty and progress. Could not stand idly by as the ideals he held dear were discarded.

And so, in 1821, the streets of Grenoble witnessed a remarkable event. Jean-François Champollion, along with a group of like-minded individuals, took a bold step. They scaled the citadel and, in an act of defiance, raised the tricolor flag high above the city.

The act of raising the tricolor was a statement of resistance against the returning Bourbon Royalists. It was an assertion of the principles Champollion held dear, a belief that knowledge and freedom should be accessible to all.

Yet, as the tricolor waved proudly, the consequences of this audacious act could not be ignored. Jean-François Champollion and his compatriots were charged with treason. The very ideals he had upheld, the very principles he had taught to his students, had placed him on the wrong side of the law.

# Unlocking Ancient Secrets

Following the upheaval of that year, Jean-François Champollion continued his academic pursuits. In 1822, Champollion's dedication to unraveling the secrets of the past took a significant step forward. He published "Lettre à M. Dacier relative à l'alphabet des hiéroglyphes phonétiques," a work that brought him closer to unlocking the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt. The breakthrough was not just a personal triumph, but a monumental leap for Egyptology.

Two years later, in 1824, a new chapter of happiness was added to Champollion's life. His daughter, Zoraïde Chéronnet-Champollion, was born.

Yet, Champollion's quest to decipher the hieroglyphs continued. During his travels, he had developed an relationship with an Italian poet named Angelica Palli.

In 1831, Jean-François Champollion embarked on a journey on Egypt. Champollion encountered the remnants of a civilization lost to the sands of time. His insatiable curiosity led him to explore temples, tombs, and inscriptions that whispered the secrets of a bygone era. Every hieroglyph he encountered was a puzzle piece in the grand mosaic of history.

Then, in a moment that would echo through history, Champollion made a discovery that would change the course of Egyptology. He stood before the Rosetta Stone, a slab of black basalt etched with inscriptions in three scripts: hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek. This stone, unearthed in 1799, held the key to unlocking the hieroglyphs.

With relentless dedication, he meticulously studied the inscriptions, comparing the Greek text with the hieroglyphs and the Demotic script. The Rosetta Stone became his Rosetta Stone, a true cornerstone in his decipherment quest.

In 1831, Champollion achieved the impossible. He deciphered the hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone, revealing their phonetic and symbolic meanings. It was a groundbreaking moment in Egyptology, a triumph of intellect and perseverance. The enigmatic symbols that had baffled scholars for centuries were now yielding their secrets.

The significance of his breakthrough was not lost on him. In 1832, Champollion published "Lettre à M. le duc de Blacas d'Aulps sur l'alphabet des hiéroglyphes phonétiques égyptiens," a work that illuminated the world with his findings. The mysteries of ancient Egypt were no longer shrouded in darkness. Thanks to Champollion's relentless pursuit of knowledge, the past had come alive once more.

Cleopatra's name and titles, as inscribed on the Rosetta Stone, appeared In hieroglyphic oval cartouche, Champollion recognized the significance of this element. He understood that if he could decipher Cleopatra's name in hieroglyphs, he could make a breakthrough in understanding the entire script. This insight led him to study the Greek text on the Rosetta Stone, which allowed him to identify some of the corresponding hieroglyphs for certain sounds. He then compared these sounds to the hieroglyphic symbols surrounding Cleopatra's name, allowing him to begin to decode the hieroglyphic script.

# Death

The academic world marveled at Champollion's achievement, and he was celebrated as a linguistic genius. He continued to lecture, publish, and advance the study of Egyptology, sharing his knowledge with generations of scholars.

However, Champollion's life was marked by personal and health struggles. Chronically plagued by ailments, including gout and tinnitus, he battled to maintain his well-being. Champollion's health deteriorated further during his travels. The demanding conditions of his expeditions and the harsh environments he encountered took a toll on his body. The climatic disparities, the dusty tombs, and the physical strain of exploring ancient sites were unforgiving.

In 1836, on March 4th, Jean-François Champollion passed away in Paris at the age of 41. His death was a loss not only to the academic community but to the world. As the news of his passing spread, scholars, Egyptophiles, and admirers of his work mourned the loss of a brilliant mind.

# Legacy

Jean-François Champollion's decipherment of hieroglyphs marked the birth of Egyptology as a distinct discipline. His work not only unlocked the language of ancient Egypt but also ignited a passion for exploring this civilization. Modern Egyptology has thrived, with scholars uncovering a wealth of information from the temple walls, papyrus scrolls, and inscriptions.

Today, we can read the names of pharaohs, the stories of gods and goddesses, the lives of ancient warriors, and the wisdom of sages from the walls of Egyptian temples. This wealth of information has deepened our understanding of the religious, political, and social aspects of ancient Egypt.

With hieroglyphs deciphered, the literature of ancient Egypt became accessible. Poems, tales, and stories from this civilization have enriched our knowledge of their cultural expressions. We've discovered epic narratives, love poems, and texts that provide insights into their thoughts and emotions.

Champollion's groundbreaking work allowed scholars to translate other ancient languages including Babylon. Today, scholars can read clay tablets that reveal the stories of kings, the laws of Hammurabi, and the Barbelo history with the epic of Gilgamesh to transfer into movies, video games and anime series.

The ability to decipher hieroglyphs and cuneiform has allowed to observe the interactions and influences that shaped the ancient world. These comparisons have enriched our understanding of history and culture.

Champollion's legacy has inspired new generations of linguists, archaeologists, and historians to continue uncovering the secrets of the past. Today, institutions and researchers worldwide are dedicated to preserving and expanding our knowledge of ancient civilizations.

History proved that it doesn't rely on champions or immortals to preserve it. Instead, it's a testament to the insatiable curiosity of humanity, knowledge lies patiently in the sands and within the ancient temple walls, waiting for those who are eager to uncover it.

This very page serves as a challenge to you dear reader, inviting you to step away from the computers and smartphones. And discover real history. The question is, what are you waiting for? The past beckons, and its mysteries are there to be revealed by those who dare to explore.