The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele dating to 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. It is historically significant because it provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, as it contained the same decree inscribed in three different scripts.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The inscription was not in a single language. It contained the same text in two languages (Egyptian and Greek) written in three different scripts.
- Statement 2 is Correct: One of the languages was Ancient Greek. Since the Ptolemaic rulers were of Greek origin, Greek was the language of administration. This allowed scholars, who could read Greek, to decipher the other scripts.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The Egyptian language was written in two forms of script on the stone:
- Hieroglyphics: The script used for sacred and official purposes (top band).
- Demotic: The script used for daily documents and by the common people (middle band).
Key Takeaway:
The Rosetta Stone features three scripts: Hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek. This trilingual nature allowed Jean-François Champollion to decipher the hieroglyphic script in the 19th century.