MASONIC BIOGRAPHIES FAMOUS FREEMASONS

The Rosetta Stone Click for larger image. Discovered by Bouchard (Boussard) in August 1799, and deciphered by non-mason, Jean François Champollion (1790-1832) in 1822, with the aid of inscriptions discovered by Italian freemason, Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778/11/04-1823/12/03), the Rosetta Stone provided the key to deciphering the entire system of Egyptian heiroglyphs. Measuring 3ft. 9 in. (114 cm) long anf 2 ft 4 1/2 in. (72 cm) wide, it was carved from black basalt. Belzoni was installed as a Knight Templar in the Modern’s Union Lodge No. 68 in either March or August of 1821, and possibly initiated in the Duke of Sussex’s private lodge, Alpha No, 43 in 1820. See AQC vol 98 (1985), p. 7 [1-12]; cf.: AQC vol. 102 (1989), p. 253. Right click to download a 2.4 MB gif file (600 ppi, 10.082 x 13.202 ins.) of the Rosetta Stone, reproduced from the frontispiece illustration to The Egyptian Heaven and Hell, Wallis Budge. London : Kegann, Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd., 1905. vol 1, hc.

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