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

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In the Rosetta Stone inscriptions, the names of kings and queens were enclosed in a frame called:

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

APapyrus
BSarcophagus
CHieroglyph
DCartouche

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is

Cartouche

Explanation

The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele inscribed with three versions of a decree issued in Memphis, Egypt, in 196 BC. It features text in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek. This artifact was instrumental in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Option Analysis

Sarcophagus is incorrect: A sarcophagus is a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription, used in ancient civilizations like Egypt, Rome, and Greece. It is not a grammatical or orthographic feature.
Cartouche is correct: A cartouche is an oval frame with a horizontal line at one end, used in Egyptian hieroglyphs to enclose the name of a royal figure, such as a king or queen. Scholars realized that the groups of hieroglyphs inside these oval frames on the Rosetta Stone corresponded to the royal names (specifically Ptolemy V) mentioned in the Greek text, which provided the key to deciphering the script.
Hieroglyph is incorrect: A hieroglyph refers to the individual character or symbol used in the writing system itself, not the specific frame enclosing a name.
Papyrus is incorrect: Papyrus is a material prepared from the pith of the papyrus plant, used in ancient Egypt for writing, painting, and making rope. It is a medium, not a symbol or frame.

Key Takeaway: In Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an oval loop that specifically indicates that the enclosed text represents a royal name.

Your note

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

Consider the following statements regarding the development of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent: 1. The Garo hills to the north-east were one of the areas where agriculture developed. 2. Rice was first grown in the Sulaiman hills. 3. The earliest cities flourished in the Vindhyan region before the Indus valley. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

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?

medium

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

medium

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?

easy

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The correct option is

Cartouche

Explanation

Option Analysis

Sarcophagus is incorrect: A sarcophagus is a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription, used in ancient civilizations like Egypt, Rome, and Greece. It is not a grammatical or orthographic feature.
Cartouche is correct: A cartouche is an oval frame with a horizontal line at one end, used in Egyptian hieroglyphs to enclose the name of a royal figure, such as a king or queen. Scholars realized that the groups of hieroglyphs inside these oval frames on the Rosetta Stone corresponded to the royal names (specifically Ptolemy V) mentioned in the Greek text, which provided the key to deciphering the script.
Hieroglyph is incorrect: A hieroglyph refers to the individual character or symbol used in the writing system itself, not the specific frame enclosing a name.
Papyrus is incorrect: Papyrus is a material prepared from the pith of the papyrus plant, used in ancient Egypt for writing, painting, and making rope. It is a medium, not a symbol or frame.

Key Takeaway: In Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an oval loop that specifically indicates that the enclosed text represents a royal name.