# How much of Meroitic can be translated? · Meroitic > Three answers have been proposed. Funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00CC73S4/how-much-of-meroitic-can-be-translated Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:06+00:00 --- **0** # How much of Meroitic can be translated? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Answered: Funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts…** Passed its tests and review. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts… leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, one is answered. ## Why it matters Meroitic is often described as deciphered, which is true of the script and not of the language. The site should say exactly what can be translated and what is a guess⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZPKW7BQ6/the-meroitic-language-and-writing-system)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZQTY2XRD/claude-rilly-meroitic-phonology-syntax-and-linguistic-family). ## Answers 3 [**Funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/answers/ANS0CVV03A426N5/funerary-formulae-names-titles-places-and-a-few-dozen-words) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**Comparative work has made substantial parts of the royal texts translatable.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/answers/ANS0CVV041J4SS5/comparative-work-has-made-substantial-parts-of-the-royal) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/answers/ANS0CVV049C563P/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed ## History 1. 2012[Rilly & de Voogt puts forward: funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZPKW7BQ6/the-meroitic-language-and-writing-system) 1. 2012[Rilly & de Voogt: griffith's understood vocabulary was limited to names of people and gods, titles and places; later progress…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZPKW7BQ6/the-meroitic-language-and-writing-system)For: Funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts… 1. 2024[University of Chicago: nominal syntax is well understood; verbal morphology is in its infancy.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZQTY2XRD/claude-rilly-meroitic-phonology-syntax-and-linguistic-family)For: Funerary formulae, names, titles, places and a few dozen words are understood; long royal and narrative texts… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00CC73S4/how-much-of-meroitic-can-be-translated%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00CC73S4/how-much-of-meroitic-can-be-translated%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00CC73S4/how-much-of-meroitic-can-be-translated%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00CC73S4/how-much-of-meroitic-can-be-translated%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00CC73S4/how-much-of-meroitic-can-be-translated%23add-source) Where it fits Meroitic **How much of Meroitic can be translated?** Key question · you're here [Are Griffith's sign values correct?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00M647FT/are-griffiths-sign-values-correct)Answered · The values are correct, with refinements to the syllabic signs and the e sign. [ Ask a question under this one ]