Ireland’s Egyptologist, Rev. Edward Hincks

Did you know that a County Down-based Church of Ireland clergyman had a significant role in our understanding of hieroglyphs? Rector of Killyleagh, the Rev. Edward Hincks (1792-1866) was one of the leading pioneers in the decipherment of ancient near eastern languages. Hincks’ work on hieroglyphs was of such a high standard that it challenged the work of Jean-François Champollion (1790-1832), who deciphered the Rosetta Stone.

Hincks was a long-time member of the Belfast Natural History Society and contributed much to local knowledge of ancient Egypt. Learn how influential Hincks was in our Ancient Egypt: Lisburn Stories exhibition. It is free and runs until 12 October.

Portrait of Rev. Edward Hincks By unknown artist. Reproduction, by kind permission of the Griffith Institute, University of Oxford.
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