Jacques Champollion had not actually gone to Egypt. His son, Jacques Joseph Champollion, had applied instead. He was a linguist not yet thirty years old. When the Rosetta Stone was discovered, although the hieroglyphs and cursive script called sacred writing on it could not be deciphered, the accompanying linguists recognized Ancient Greek. They quickly discovered that it recorded the first anniversary of the accession of the thirteen-year-old Ptolemy V, including tax reductions, the erection of statues in temples, and other matters.
After learning that the Rosetta Stone could not be moved back to France, the members of the Egypt Research Society made numerous rubbings. The mathematician Bollier received one as well. In a sense, it was a fashionable gift among scholars.
Joseph's application had failed because he was the eldest son. Jacques Champollion dealt in books, almanacs, and all kinds of religious relics. Something had happened at home during that period: his mother had fallen ill. At his wits' end, Jacques Champollion had even found a wizard to treat his wife.
His father had to care for his mother, leaving no one to mind the shop. Though it was his family's own business, Joseph still had to apprentice at a relative's shop, and so he missed his chance to go to Egypt.
Later, the family's circumstances improved. The Board of Education hoped to bring linguists proficient in Latin, Greek, and other languages to Paris for research work. Georgiana had already had Brune copy the books Napoleon had seized from the church library and the Library of Alexandria before returning them. It was under these circumstances that Joseph saw Prince Khaemwaset's name.
To the Ancient Egyptians, writing was not merely for recording things. The act of writing was fleeting, while its result served as a display. It had gone beyond the