rock of ages nyt crossword

For the New York Times clue “Rock of Ages,” the common answer in recent puzzles is ROSETTASTONE (12 letters).

Quick Scoop: What the clue means

When “Rock of Ages” appears in a NYT crossword, it is usually a playful clue pointing to the famous ancient artifact, the Rosetta Stone, rather than the musical or the hymn.

• The Rosetta Stone is a carved rock slab from 196 BCE that helped scholars decode Egyptian hieroglyphs, hence a “rock” that changed the “ages” of understanding.

• Crossword editors like this clue because it is short, slightly cryptic, and fair once you realize “rock” = stone and “ages” = history/eras.

Other “Rock of Ages” references

While the crossword clue points to ROSETTASTONE , you’ll also see “Rock of Ages” in pop culture, which sometimes misleads solvers:

• A jukebox stage musical packed with 1980s rock hits, following Sherrie and Drew chasing fame and love on LA’s Sunset Strip.

• A 2012 film adaptation of the musical, with the same broad storyline of romance, rock, and a threatened rock club.

• A well‑known Christian hymn that sometimes shows up in more straightforward religious-themed clues.

Why this answer fits NYT-style cluing

• Letter count: “ROSETTASTONE” fits a 12‑letter grid slot, which matches the currently documented NYT use of this clue.

• Wordplay: “Rock” → stone; “of Ages” → something tied to long spans of time and historical decipherment, i.e., the Rosetta Stone’s role in understanding ancient Egypt.

If your specific puzzle has a different letter count or crossing letters that don’t fit ROSETTASTONE, the clue might be from another date or use a different theme—but for the standard NYT usage, ROSETTASTONE is the go‑to answer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.