Antoine-Jean Saint-Martin (17 January 1791 – 17 July 1832) was a French academic, orientalist, and pioneer in the field of what would be known as Armenian Studies.
Antoine-Jean Saint-Martin was born in Paris on 17 January 1791, the son of a tradesman. Intending to enter commerce, he attended the Collège des Quatre-Nations. There he learned Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Syriac and Turkish, plus the basics of several other languages such as Zend and Georgian. By the age of 20 he had already acquired a solid theory and spoken fluency in Armenian and Arabic.
In April 1821 he probably was the "Saint Martin" who published the first decipherment of ain inscription in the Lycian language.[1]
He later entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1822 he was one of the founders of the Société Asiatique, and directed the publication of its journal, the Journal Asiatique. In 1824 he was appointed director of the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal.
He was responsible for inducing the French government to send the researcher Friedrich Eduard Schulz to the Lake Van region of Armenia in 1827, and in 1828 published Schulz's first report on the remains of the hitherto unknown Urartian civilization.
Saint-Martin died of cholera in Paris on 17 July 1832 during the second pandemic.
Contribution to the decipherment of cuneiform
The early attempts at deciphering Old Persian cuneiform were made by Münter and Grotefend by guesswork only, using Achaemenid cuneiform inscriptions found in Persepolis. In 1802, Friedrich Münter realized that recurring groups of characters must be the word for "king" (𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹, now known to be pronounced xšāyaθiya). Georg Friedrich Grotefend extended this work by realizing a king's name is often followed by "great king, king of kings" and the name of the king's father.[2][3] This, related to the known chronology of the Achaemenid and the relative sizes of each royal names, allowed Grotefend to figure out the cuneiform characters that are part of Darius, Darius's father Hystaspes, and Darius's son Xerxes. Grotefend's contribution to Old Persian is unique in that he did not have comparisons between Old Persian and known languages, as opposed to the decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Rosetta Stone. All his decipherments were done by comparing the texts with known history.[3]
Grotefend published his deductions in 1802, but they were dismissed by the Academic community.[3] It was only in 1823 that Grotefend's discovery was confirmed, when the French archaeologist Champollion, who had just deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs, had the idea of deciphering the quadrilingual hieroglyph-cuneiform inscription on the famous alabaster vase in the Cabinet des Médailles, the Caylus vase.[5][6][7] The Egyptian inscription on the vase turned out to be in the name of King Xerxes I, and Saint-Martin, who accompanied Champollion, was able to confirm that the corresponding words in the cuneiform script (𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 𐏐 𐏋 𐏐 𐎺𐏀𐎼𐎣, Xšayāršā : XŠ : vazraka, "Xerxes : The Great King") were indeed using the words which Grotefend had identified as meaning "king" and "Xerxes" through guesswork.[5][6][7] The findings were published by A.J. Saint-Martin in Extrait d'un mémoire relatif aux antiques inscriptions de Persépolis lu à l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres.[5][8] Saint-Martin attempted to define an Old Persian cuneiform alphabet, of which 10 letters were correct, on a total of 39 signs he had identified.[9]
(1822) Notice sur le zodiaque de Denderah, p. PA3, at Google Books, Delaunay, 51 p.
(1822) « Notice sur la vie et les ouvrages de M. Tôchon, p. PR1, at Google Books ». In: Joseph-François Tôchon, Recherches historiques et géographiques sur les médailles des nomes ou préfectures de l'Égypte, Imprimerie royale, 256 p.
(1823) "Extrait d'un mémoire relatif aux antiques inscriptions de Persépolis lu à l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres". Journal asiatique (in French). Société asiatique (France): 65–90. January 1823.
(1825) Choix de fables de Vartan at Google Books, Paris, Librairie orientale de Dondey-Dupré père et fils; Armenian text, French translation by Antoine-Jean Saint-Martin (in Armenian and French)
(1827) Relation d'un voyage fait en Europe et dans l'Océan Atlantique, à la fin du XV siècle sous le règne de Charles VIII, par Martyr, évêque d'Arzendjan, translation and introduction by J. Saint-Martin
^Saint-Martin (1821). "Observations sur les inscriptions lyciennes découvertes par M. Cockerell". Journal des Savans (Avril): 235–248. Retrieved 2021-04-06. (archived at BnF Gallica).
^Kent, R. G.: "Old Persian: Grammar Texts Lexicon", page 10. American Oriental Society, 1950.
^ abcSayce, Archibald Henry (2019). The Archaeology of the Cuneiform Inscriptions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–14. ISBN978-1-108-08239-6.
^Jürgen von Beckerath (1999), Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen, Mainz am Rhein: von Zabern. ISBN3-8053-2310-7, pp. 220–221
^ abcdefSaint-Martin, Antoine-Jean (January 1823). "Extrait d'un mémoire relatif aux antiques inscriptions de Persépolis lu à l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres". Journal asiatique (in French). Société asiatique (France): 65–90.
^ abPages 10-14, note 1 on page 13 Sayce, Archibald Henry (2019). The Archaeology of the Cuneiform Inscriptions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–14. ISBN978-1-108-08239-6.
^ abBulletin des sciences historiques, antiquités, philologie (in French). Treuttel et Würtz. 1825. p. 135.
^In Journal asiatique II, 1823, PI. II, pp. 65—90 AAGE PALLIS, SVEND. "EARLY EXPLORATION IN MESOPOTAMIA" (PDF): 36. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^The Persian Cuneiform Inscription at Behistun: Decyphered and Tr.; with a Memoir on Persian Cuneiform Inscriptions in General, and on that of Behistun in Particular. J.W. Parker. 1846. p. 6.
August 21, 2023
antoine, jean, saint, martin, january, 1791, july, 1832, french, academic, orientalist, pioneer, field, what, would, known, armenian, studies, portrait, 19th, century, contents, biography, contribution, decipherment, cuneiform, works, referencesbiography, edit. Antoine Jean Saint Martin 17 January 1791 17 July 1832 was a French academic orientalist and pioneer in the field of what would be known as Armenian Studies Antoine Jean Saint Martin portrait 19th century Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Contribution to the decipherment of cuneiform 2 Works 3 ReferencesBiography EditAntoine Jean Saint Martin was born in Paris on 17 January 1791 the son of a tradesman Intending to enter commerce he attended the College des Quatre Nations There he learned Arabic Armenian Persian Syriac and Turkish plus the basics of several other languages such as Zend and Georgian By the age of 20 he had already acquired a solid theory and spoken fluency in Armenian and Arabic On 2 September 1820 he was elected a member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles lettres part of the Institut de France In April 1821 he probably was the Saint Martin who published the first decipherment of ain inscription in the Lycian language 1 He later entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs In 1822 he was one of the founders of the Societe Asiatique and directed the publication of its journal the Journal Asiatique In 1824 he was appointed director of the Bibliotheque de l Arsenal He was responsible for inducing the French government to send the researcher Friedrich Eduard Schulz to the Lake Van region of Armenia in 1827 and in 1828 published Schulz s first report on the remains of the hitherto unknown Urartian civilization Saint Martin died of cholera in Paris on 17 July 1832 during the second pandemic Contribution to the decipherment of cuneiform Edit The early attempts at deciphering Old Persian cuneiform were made by Munter and Grotefend by guesswork only using Achaemenid cuneiform inscriptions found in Persepolis In 1802 Friedrich Munter realized that recurring groups of characters must be the word for king 𐎧𐏁𐎠𐎹𐎰𐎡𐎹 now known to be pronounced xsaya8iya Georg Friedrich Grotefend extended this work by realizing a king s name is often followed by great king king of kings and the name of the king s father 2 3 This related to the known chronology of the Achaemenid and the relative sizes of each royal names allowed Grotefend to figure out the cuneiform characters that are part of Darius Darius s father Hystaspes and Darius s son Xerxes Grotefend s contribution to Old Persian is unique in that he did not have comparisons between Old Persian and known languages as opposed to the decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Rosetta Stone All his decipherments were done by comparing the texts with known history 3 Xerxes Xasayarusa Ḫasayarusa 4 Egyptian hieroglyphsGrotefend published his deductions in 1802 but they were dismissed by the Academic community 3 It was only in 1823 that Grotefend s discovery was confirmed when the French archaeologist Champollion who had just deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs had the idea of deciphering the quadrilingual hieroglyph cuneiform inscription on the famous alabaster vase in the Cabinet des Medailles the Caylus vase 5 6 7 The Egyptian inscription on the vase turned out to be in the name of King Xerxes I and Saint Martin who accompanied Champollion was able to confirm that the corresponding words in the cuneiform script 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 𐏋 𐎺𐏀𐎼𐎣 Xsayarsa XS vazraka Xerxes The Great King were indeed using the words which Grotefend had identified as meaning king and Xerxes through guesswork 5 6 7 The findings were published by A J Saint Martin in Extrait d un memoire relatif aux antiques inscriptions de Persepolis lu a l Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres 5 8 Saint Martin attempted to define an Old Persian cuneiform alphabet of which 10 letters were correct on a total of 39 signs he had identified 9 Caylus vase transcription by Saint Martin in 1823 5 Persepolitan alphabet by Saint Martin 1823 5 Old Persian cuneiform translation by Saint Martin 1823 5 Works Edit 1818 Memoires historiques et geographiques sur l Armenie 2 vols Imprimerie royale Paris Online Tome 1 p PR3 at Google Books Tome 2 p PP7 at Google Books Reprint Nabu Press 2011 1822 Notice sur le zodiaque de Denderah p PA3 at Google Books Delaunay 51 p 1822 Notice sur la vie et les ouvrages de M Tochon p PR1 at Google Books In Joseph Francois Tochon Recherches historiques et geographiques sur les medailles des nomes ou prefectures de l Egypte Imprimerie royale 256 p 1823 Extrait d un memoire relatif aux antiques inscriptions de Persepolis lu a l Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres Journal asiatique in French Societe asiatique France 65 90 January 1823 1825 Choix de fables de Vartan at Google Books Paris Librairie orientale de Dondey Dupre pere et fils Armenian text French translation by Antoine Jean Saint Martin in Armenian and French 1827 Relation d un voyage fait en Europe et dans l Ocean Atlantique a la fin du XV siecle sous le regne de Charles VIII par Martyr eveque d Arzendjan translation and introduction by J Saint Martin 1833 With Marie Felicite Brosset Memoire sur l Armenie 495 p 1838 Recherches sur l histoire et la geographie de la Mesene et de la Characene at Google Books Paris Imprimerie royale 1841 Histoire d Armenie par le patriarche Jean VI dit Jean Catholicos trad Paris Imprimerie royale 1850 Fragments d une histoire des Arsacides Paris Imprimerie nationale Published posthumously by Felix Lajard Tome 1 Tome 2 at GallicaReferences Edit Saint Martin 1821 Observations sur les inscriptions lyciennes decouvertes par M Cockerell Journal des Savans Avril 235 248 Retrieved 2021 04 06 archived at BnF Gallica Kent R G Old Persian Grammar Texts Lexicon page 10 American Oriental Society 1950 a b c Sayce Archibald Henry 2019 The Archaeology of the Cuneiform Inscriptions Cambridge University Press pp 10 14 ISBN 978 1 108 08239 6 Jurgen von Beckerath 1999 Handbuch der agyptischen Konigsnamen Mainz am Rhein von Zabern ISBN 3 8053 2310 7 pp 220 221 a b c d e f Saint Martin Antoine Jean January 1823 Extrait d un memoire relatif aux antiques inscriptions de Persepolis lu a l Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres Journal asiatique in French Societe asiatique France 65 90 a b Pages 10 14 note 1 on page 13 Sayce Archibald Henry 2019 The Archaeology of the Cuneiform Inscriptions Cambridge University Press pp 10 14 ISBN 978 1 108 08239 6 a b Bulletin des sciences historiques antiquites philologie in French Treuttel et Wurtz 1825 p 135 In Journal asiatique II 1823 PI II pp 65 90 AAGE PALLIS SVEND EARLY EXPLORATION IN MESOPOTAMIA PDF 36 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help The Persian Cuneiform Inscription at Behistun Decyphered and Tr with a Memoir on Persian Cuneiform Inscriptions in General and on that of Behistun in Particular J W Parker 1846 p 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antoine Jean Saint Martin amp oldid 1147860201, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
