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The Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC, issued these series of decrees over the course of their reign. The Rosetta Stone is a well-known example of one of the decrees.
The Rosetta Stone was included in the third part of a series of three decrees, the first from Ptolemy III (the Decree of Canopus), the second from Ptolemy IV (The Memphis Stele), and the third from Ptolemy V.
There are approximately two copies of the Stone of Canopus, two of the Memphis Stele (one imperfect) and two and a half copies of the text of the Rosetta Stone, including the Nubayrah Stele and a pyramid wall inscription with "edits", or scene replacements, completed by subsequent scribes.
The three Decrees, the three-stone series
Multiple copies of the stones were erected in multiple temple courtyards, as specified in the text of the decrees.
- 239 BC Decree of Canopus (Ptolemy III), (247–221 BC){The Decree was on 7 Appellaios (Mac.) = 17 Tybi (Eg.) year 9 of Ptolemy III = 7 March 238,}
- stone 1: Stele of Canopus, (no. 1), found 1866, 37 lines hieroglyphs, 74 lines Demotic (right side), 76 lines Greek 'capitals', fine limestone.
- stone 2: Stele of Canopus, no. 2, found 1881, 26 lines hieroglyphs, 20 lines Demotic, 64 lines Greek 'capitals', white limestone.
- 3rd partial of hieroglyphic lines (location: Louvre).
- 216 BC Decree of Memphis (Ptolemy IV), (221–203 BC)
- stone 1: Stele No. 1, found 1902, hieroglyphs, demotic, and Greek, dark granite.
- stone 2: Pithom Stele, No. II, found 1923, hieroglyphs (front), 42 lines Demotic (back), virtually complete providing almost total translation, and Greek (side), sandstone.
- 196 BC Decree of Memphis (Ptolemy V), (203–198 BC)
- stone 1: Rosetta Stone, "Stele of Rosetta", found 1799, (remaining) hieroglyphs, 14 lines, 32 lines Demotic, 54 lines Greek 'capitals', dark granite-(granodiorite).
- stone 2: Stele of Nubayrah, found early 1880's, hieroglyphs, lines 1-27 used to complete missing Rosetta Stone lines, demotic, Greek capitals, limestone.
- site 3: the Temple of Philae, inscribed hieroglyphs, for Decree of Memphis (Ptolemy V), on walls, also overwritten, by scenes, and figures of humans/gods.
Totals: 6 stones, or stelae, 1 partial, and 1 temple wall inscription writing.
