Consider the following statements regarding the decipherment of the Egyptian script: 1. It was facilitated by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. 2. Scholars used Latin scripts to decipher the Egyptian signs. 3. The Egyptian script contained both pictographic and phonetic signs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is (c). Explanation The decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs was a significant milestone in Egyptology, primarily made possible by the discovery of a stele containing a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC. This discovery allowed scholars to understand a script that had been unintelligible for centuries. Statement-wise Analysis: - Statement 1 is Correct: The decipherment was facilitated by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. This stone contained the same decree inscribed in three different scripts, serving as the key to understanding the hieroglyphic system. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: Scholars did not use Latin scripts. The Rosetta Stone featured the text in Hieroglyphic (sacred script), Demotic (common script), and Ancient Greek. Scholars, most notably Jean-François Champollion, used their knowledge of Ancient Greek to decipher the Egyptian signs. - Statement 3 is Correct: The Egyptian hieroglyphic script is not purely pictographic. It is a complex system that combines logographic (symbols representing words or concepts) and phonetic (symbols representing sounds) elements. Champollion’s breakthrough involved realizing that the signs could represent sounds as well as objects. Key Takeaway: The Rosetta Stone was the critical key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs because it provided a parallel translation in Ancient Greek, revealing that the script possessed both phonetic and ideographic characteristics.

NCERT Class 6 History — Chapter 1: What, where, how and when?

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Consider the following statements regarding the decipherment of the Egyptian script:

It was facilitated by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone.
Scholars used Latin scripts to decipher the Egyptian signs.
The Egyptian script contained both pictographic and phonetic signs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (c).

Explanation

The decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs was a significant milestone in Egyptology, primarily made possible by the discovery of a stele containing a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC. This discovery allowed scholars to understand a script that had been unintelligible for centuries.

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Correct: The decipherment was facilitated by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. This stone contained the same decree inscribed in three different scripts, serving as the key to understanding the hieroglyphic system.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Scholars did not use Latin scripts. The Rosetta Stone featured the text in Hieroglyphic (sacred script), Demotic (common script), and Ancient Greek. Scholars, most notably Jean-François Champollion, used their knowledge of Ancient Greek to decipher the Egyptian signs.
Statement 3 is Correct: The Egyptian hieroglyphic script is not purely pictographic. It is a complex system that combines logographic (symbols representing words or concepts) and phonetic (symbols representing sounds) elements. Champollion’s breakthrough involved realizing that the signs could represent sounds as well as objects.

Key Takeaway:
The Rosetta Stone was the critical key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs because it provided a parallel translation in Ancient Greek, revealing that the script possessed both phonetic and ideographic characteristics.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: What, where, how and when?

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Arrange the following events in chronological order (from earliest to latest): 1. Development of cities on the banks of the Ganga. 2. Beginning of agriculture in Sulaiman and Kirthar hills. 3. Flourishing of earliest cities on the Indus. 4. Composition of the Rigveda. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below: List I | List II A. Sulaiman Hills | 1. First cities (4700 years ago) B. Indus River | 2. Cities about 2500 years ago C. Ganga Valley | 3. Rearing of animals and early crops D. Vindhyas | 4. Agriculture developed

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Consider the following statements regarding the shift of urbanization: 1. Urbanization first occurred in the Indus valley. 2. Cities in the Ganga valley developed before those in the Indus valley. 3. The gap between these two phases is less than 500 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

hard

With reference to the earliest human settlements in the Narmada valley, which of the following statements best describes the livelihood of the people?

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The correct option is (c).

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Correct: The decipherment was facilitated by the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. This stone contained the same decree inscribed in three different scripts, serving as the key to understanding the hieroglyphic system.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Scholars did not use Latin scripts. The Rosetta Stone featured the text in Hieroglyphic (sacred script), Demotic (common script), and Ancient Greek. Scholars, most notably Jean-François Champollion, used their knowledge of Ancient Greek to decipher the Egyptian signs.
Statement 3 is Correct: The Egyptian hieroglyphic script is not purely pictographic. It is a complex system that combines logographic (symbols representing words or concepts) and phonetic (symbols representing sounds) elements. Champollion’s breakthrough involved realizing that the signs could represent sounds as well as objects.