Entrepreneur Launches Historic, Code-Cracking Rosetta Stone Replica Project

Oct. 5, 2009 - PRLog -- Severn, MD – The Rosetta Stone. Anyone interested in the fields of archaeology, Egyptology, cryptology, publishing, geology, science, writing, mathematics, translation work and/or languages understands the significance of this famous artifact.

  Rosetta Classic®, LLC (in collaboration with The Freeman Institute® Foundation) announced today that for the first time any person or entity in the world can now own and exhibit a distinctive full-size, 3D Classic Rosetta replica (45” tall x 30” wide x 11” thick) of the original Rosetta Stone, housed in the British Museum. Rosetta Classic is not affiliated with the British Museum, which has not endorsed or sponsored Rosetta Classic, The Freeman Institute Foundation, or the Rosetta Stone replica project.

  The Hybrid Rosetta model is also available to the general public. It’s  a coffee table (40" long x 30" wide x 2.5" thick), made in the shape of the face of the original Rosetta Stone, features four removable legs, allowing its owner to display the model either as a coffee table or as a piece of wall-mountable archaeological art. To our knowledge, it is the world’s first and only such dual-purpose innovation.

 The world’s first and only Limited Edition models are the Classic Fine Art Bronze Rosetta (“lost wax” bronze full size, 3-D replica), Bronze/Silver Rosetta (cold bronze/silver full-size, 3-D replicas in a durable resin compound), and the Bronze Plaque Rosetta ("lost wax" full-size flat bronze or cold bronze/silver plaque models, approximately 40" tall x 30" wide x 1" thick).

  The official Rosetta Classic website provides a pictorial and verbal overview of the latest, cutting edge digital, laser, artistic sculpting, and rotational casting technologies utilized in the development of these models – www.RosettaStoneReplicas.com

DR. JOEL A. FREEMAN
  As the veteran mentor/chaplain for the NBA Washington Bullets/Wizards for 19 years (’79-’98), award-winning film maker and prolific author, Dr. Freeman has an intriguing presentation – "The Mysterious Rosetta Stone." The "Rosetta Stone Man," Dr. Freeman is available to make a highly visual & educational presentation/exhibition to your organization about the historical & contemporary significance of the Rosetta Stone – BIO: www.JoelAFreeman.com

  On Wednesday, October 14th, 2009, Dr. Freeman will be speaking on the topic at the Library of Congress (DC) at 12 noon in the African & Middle Eastern Division. He will be exhibiting a full size replica, along with a few other innovations and some of the historical items (early 1800s) from his collection. It's free. All are invited.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D., Box 305, Gambrills, MD 21054
Office: 410-729-4011 Cell: 410-991-9718
Email: freemani@comcast.net Website: www.RosettaStoneReplicas.com  
                                                   or www.freemaninstitute.com/rosettastone.htm


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A D D I T I O N A L    I N F O R M A T I O N

QUICK HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

  The Rosetta Stone is one of the most famous and treasured archaeological discoveries of Egypt. Even though that may be true, many do not have a clue about the historical significance of the discovery.

  The Napoleonic Egyptian Military Campaign started in 1798. In 1799, as French soldiers were preparing to build the foundation for Fort Julian (later known as Fort Julian on the West bank of the Nile, they found the Rosetta Stone. That village, called Rashid, was translated as “Rosetta;” hence the name.

  The Rosetta Stone was/is an irregularly shaped slab of granodiorite rock weighing about 1,700 pounds. The face has 14 lines of hieroglyphs (It is estimated that there were 29 lines prior to breakage), 32 lines of cursive Demotic, and, at the bottom, 54 lines of ancient Greek (language introduced after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great). All proclaim the same message.

  After it was found, the Greek text was quickly translated and the last line of the Greek text impacted everyone who read it:  "This decree shall be inscribed on a stela of hard stone in sacred (hieroglyph) and native (demotic script) and Greek characters...." This meant that a parallel version of the same text was presented in all three languages! The Stone was deemed to be priceless! Everyone quickly recognized that the Rosetta Stone could very well unlock the secrets to ancient Egypt. And it did.

  The behind-the-scenes story of the Rosetta Stone is intriguing all by itself, but the cracking of the code of the hieroglyphs in 1822 was enormously important for understanding the history and culture of ancient Egypt. It was now possible to read hundreds of hieroglyph inscriptions on tombs, obelisks and other ancient objects, thus revealing details of a civilization going back close to 4,000 years BC.

ROSETTA CLASSIC, LLC & THE FREEMAN INSTITUTE FOUNDATION

  Dr. Joel Freeman, The Freeman Institute Foundation and Rosetta Classic, LLC embarked upon this project to educate and inspire the masses (especially young people) about the impact the Rosetta Stone has had upon our understanding of ancient Egypt.

  How many have never even heard of the authentic Rosetta Stone – let alone being aware of the historical and archaeological significance of this artifact? It's somewhat amusing...some people in on-the-street-interviews believe that Rosetta Stone is a woman. On the other hand, some may have heard the term, "Rosetta Stone," but have never made the connection between the name and the genuine Rosetta Stone.

  One of the objectives for the 3-D replicas and 3-D holographic project is to provide a new and different way to reach and teach young people. Educators understand that the engagement of any extra sense (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, etc.) increases the immediate understanding and long-term retention of a topic. Rosetta Classic hopes that these models will ultimately be viewed (and touched) by millions around the world – making it a memorable experience for each person.

  As visitors to Rosetta Stone replica exhibits become more aware of the Rosetta Stone, they just might go home and read about it on the Internet.

  The Freeman Institute Black History collection is comprised of well over 2,500 vintage documents and artifacts, with the oldest piece dated 1553. Under The Freeman Institute® Foundation, the objective is to develop Black History galleries, connecting the African American experience with galleries in major U.S. cities and in selected cities internationally (parts of Canada, Europe, Africa and South America and every Caribbean country) – designed to educate and inspire this generation. Each gallery will have a wall dedicated to some of the White abolitionists who sacrificed their time...and some their lives for the anti-slavery cause. This vision also includes the exhibition of replicas of the original Rosetta Stone in every gallery in the world.

  Why? A life-size, 3D reproduction of the original Rosetta Stone in each gallery provides a literal touchstone to ancient times -- reminding people that Egypt is in Africa...not the Middle East – giving an opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of other ancient African Kingdoms that have passed down much of their history through oral tradition (Ghanian, Songehay, Great Zimbabwe, Malian, etc.). The exhibition of the replica also provides a context for African American history, reminding visitors that ancient African history did not start with slavery. Black History started with inventiveness, creativity, royalty, perseverance and so much more...providing a context for all of the documents and artifacts exhibiting the part African Americans played in the past four centuries of American history.

www.Black101.com -- The Freeman Institute Black History Collection
www.TFIfoundation.org -- The Freeman Institute Foundation


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Rosetta Classic, LLC is an entity developed to help people understand the historical and contemporary significance of the famous artifact, the Rosetta Stone.