___ Stone (relic inscribed in three languages) - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "___ Stone (relic inscribed in three languages)," is a classic example of a fill-in-the-blank that relies on general knowledge. It points to one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history. If you're a history buff, this was likely an immediate fill. If not, the details in the clue provide a clear path to the answer.

Clue Analysis

The clue is structured as a proper noun phrase with a blank to be filled: "___ Stone". The parenthetical phrase, "(relic inscribed in three languages)," acts as a direct and unambiguous definition. Let's break it down:

• "___ Stone": This tells us we're looking for the first word of a two-word name for a famous stone.
• "relic": This confirms we're in the realm of history and archaeology.
• "inscribed in three languages": This is the key identifier. There is only one world-famous stone known for this specific characteristic, which was crucial for linguistic breakthroughs.

The clue is a straightforward trivia question with no wordplay involved. The solver's task is to recall the name of this specific historical artifact.

Thinking Approaches

1. Direct Recall: The most common approach for a clue like this is to simply access your memory. The phrase "stone with three languages" is almost synonymous with the answer.
2. Keyword Association: If the name doesn't come to you immediately, focus on the keywords: "stone," "Egypt," "hieroglyphs," "decipher." The stone in question was the key to understanding ancient Egyptian writing. What was it called?
3. Contextual Filtering: Think of other famous stones. The Blarney Stone? No, that's about kissing it for eloquence. The Hope Diamond? That's a gem, not an inscribed stone relic. The specific detail about three languages is designed to eliminate all other possibilities.
4. Leverage Crossings: If you're still unsure, wait for some crossing letters. Seeing an 'R' at the beginning or a double 'T' in the middle would likely trigger the correct answer for many solvers.

Background Context

The Rosetta Stone is a granodiorite stele discovered in 1799 by a French soldier during Napoleon's campaign in Egypt. Its fame comes from the fact that it is inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis, Egypt, in 196 BC on behalf of King Ptolemy V.

The decree appears in three scripts:

• Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: Used for priestly decrees.
• Demotic script: The common script of the time in Egypt.
• Ancient Greek: The language of the ruling Ptolemaic dynasty.

Because Ancient Greek was well understood, the stone provided a key to deciphering the other two scripts, which had been unreadable for centuries. This work was largely completed by Jean-Francois Champollion in the 1820s, opening the door to understanding ancient Egyptian history and culture. The stone has been on public display at the British Museum in London since 1802.

Conclusion

This clue serves as a perfect reminder that crossword puzzles are not just about vocabulary and wordplay; they are also a test of cultural and historical literacy. The "___ Stone" is a cornerstone of both archaeology and linguistics, making its name a staple in the world of trivia and, consequently, in crosswords.

Hints

1. Hint 1: This famous stone was key to deciphering an ancient writing system.
2. Hint 2: It was discovered in Egypt by French soldiers in 1799.
3. Hint 3: The languages on the stone are Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek.
4. Hint 4: The name of the stone comes from the port city where it was found, now known as Rashid.

The answer is ROSETTA.