Ancient scrolls, hidden for millennia, deciphered by modern researchers after 2,000 years of mystery
In a thrilling breakthrough, a team of scientists has made significant strides in deciphering the enigmatic scrolls from the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, buried under volcanic ash and rock following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
The prize-winning trio of Youssef Nader, Luke Farritor, and Julian Schilliger, who participated in the Vesuvius Challenge launched in March 2022, managed to digitally unravel more than 2,000 characters of the scrolls, offering a glimpse into the lives of the ancient Romans.
The scrolls, discovered in the 1700s, were turned into lumps of carbonised ash by the heat of the eruption, making them illegible. However, recent advancements in technology have allowed for high-resolution CT scans of the scrolls to be released to contestants.
The text contained within these ancient relics mainly revolves around the subject of pleasure, with philosophers such as Epicurean thinkers Philodemus and possible associates of the Epicurean school being the authors of the deciphered texts. Philodemus, an author of philosophical writings on ethics and poetics, is believed to be one of the main authors.
The text, which experts describe as 'essentially a 2000-year-old blog post about how to enjoy life,' could discuss the effect of music on the hearer and compare it to other pleasures like those of food and drink. The author also muses on whether the availability of goods, such as food, can affect the pleasure they provide.
To date, efforts have managed to unroll and read about 5% of the first scroll, revealing never-before-seen text from antiquity. The papyrology team has achieved a preliminary transcription of all the revealed columns on the scroll, and they have identified names from the parchment, including philosopher Philodemus and a man named Xenophantos, possibly a musician.
As the team continues to scale up their techniques, they expect to find more works from Philodemus in the current collection. Richard Janko, a classics professor, speculates that the author might be Epicurus' follower Philodemus, the teacher of Vergil.
This discovery offers a unique insight into the lives of the ancient Romans and their philosophical thoughts on pleasure. The contest, which offered a combined total of $1 million in prize money to successful participants, has not only shed light on these ancient texts but has also demonstrated the power of modern technology in unveiling the secrets of the past.
Read also:
- Unveiling the Less-Discussed Disadvantages of Buds - Revealing the Silent Story
- Kenya broadens economic zones featuring Olkaria's geothermal energy advantage
- Nutritional Healthcare: Linking Patients with Crucial Nourishment Through Medical Professionals
- Century Lithium Announces Production of Battery-Grade Lithium Metal Anodes from Angel Island Lithium Carbonate
