Gabriel de La Porte du Theil
Encyclopedia
Francois-Jean-Gabriel de La Porte du Theil (b. Paris, 1742 - d. 1815) was a French historian. He played a role in the early attempts to decipher the Rosetta Stone
.
His translation of Orestes
by Aeschylus
was published in 1770 and was admitted to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
the same year.
Two of the lithographic copies made of the Rosetta Stone in Egypt had reached the Institut de France
, in Paris
, by 1801. There Gabriel de La Porte du Theil set to work on a translation of the Greek portion, though he was almost immediately dispatched elsewhere on the orders of Napoleon, leaving his unfinished work in the hands of a colleague, Hubert-Pascal Ameilhon
. In 1803 Ameilhon produced the first published translations of the Greek text, in both Latin
and French to ensure that it would circulate widely.
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian granodiorite stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V. The decree appears in three scripts: the upper text is Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the middle portion Demotic script, and the lowest Ancient Greek...
.
His translation of Orestes
Orestes
Orestes was the son of Agamemnon in Greek mythology; Orestes may also refer to:Drama*Orestes , by Euripides*Orestes, the character in Sophocles' tragedy Electra*Orestes, the character in Aeschylus' trilogy of tragedies, Oresteia...
by Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
was published in 1770 and was admitted to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
the same year.
Two of the lithographic copies made of the Rosetta Stone in Egypt had reached the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, by 1801. There Gabriel de La Porte du Theil set to work on a translation of the Greek portion, though he was almost immediately dispatched elsewhere on the orders of Napoleon, leaving his unfinished work in the hands of a colleague, Hubert-Pascal Ameilhon
Hubert-Pascal Ameilhon
Hubert-Pascal Ameilhon was a French historian and librarian.He first worked at the Bibliothèque historique de la ville de Paris, the city of Paris historical library...
. In 1803 Ameilhon produced the first published translations of the Greek text, in both Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and French to ensure that it would circulate widely.