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A remarkable technological breakthrough has allowed researchers to digitally unearth a 2,000-year-old scroll that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Using advanced X-ray imaging, scientists identified the scroll as part of On Vices by the philosopher Philodemus. This ancient text, carbonized during the AD 79 eruption that devastated Herculaneum and Pompeii, has long been unreadable due to the charred state of the papyrus. Now, thanks to high-tech imaging methods, scholars have made their first clear identification of the scroll’s title and author.

Technological Breakthrough Unveils Ancient Wisdom

The breakthrough comes after centuries of attempts to read the scrolls preserved in the volcanic ruins of the Villa of the Papyri, believed to be owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law. The scroll, identified as PHerc. 172, was scanned in July 2024 at the Diamond Light Source, a synchrotron science facility in Oxfordshire, UK. Unlike previous efforts that failed to make ink visible, this high-resolution 3D scan revealed Greek ink patterns, allowing researchers to finally uncover words and sentences. The work on On Vices sheds light on the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus’s reflections on ethics and personal conduct.

On Vices: A New Insight into Ancient Philosophy

Among the deciphered words was “disgust,” visible twice in the text, suggesting a central theme of moral evaluation in the ancient work. Researchers believe the scroll is part of a series of ten volumes, addressing topics such as arrogance, greed, flattery, and governance, essential subjects of the Roman intellectual world. These findings offer scholars a new window into the philosophy of Epicureanism, a school of thought that valued simple pleasures, the pursuit of happiness, and the avoidance of pain. The ability to digitally unwrap the scroll represents a significant advancement in classical scholarship, previously hindered by the physical state of the texts.

Villa of the Papyri: A Glimpse Into Roman Elite Life

The Villa of the Papyri, buried under volcanic ash, is one of the most important archaeological sites for understanding ancient Roman culture. During the 18th century, excavations of the villa uncovered hundreds of scrolls, most of which remain too fragile to open. The scrolls were carbonized and their ink, typically based on carbon, blends into the charred papyrus, making them nearly impossible to read. This scroll, PHerc. 172, is one of the rare exceptions that has revealed legible traces through state-of-the-art X-ray technology.

The Vesuvius Challenge: A Catalyst for Discovery

This breakthrough is part of the Vesuvius Challenge, a competition launched in 2023 to accelerate progress in reading the ancient scrolls. The competition’s objective is to encourage new methods for digitally deciphering the fragile texts buried by Vesuvius. In 2024, a student-led team won the competition’s $700,000 grand prize for training AI to interpret 2,000 Greek characters from another scroll. The recent discovery of On Vices and its author Philodemus earned researchers Sean Johnson, Marcel Roth, and Micha Nowak the Vesuvius Challenge’s $60,000 title prize.

Ongoing Scanning of Additional Scrolls

Progress is accelerating. In March, scientists scanned 18 more scrolls at the Diamond Light Source, and another 20 are scheduled for imaging at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble. These scans have revealed ink traces in many additional scrolls, hinting at further discoveries to come. Dr. Brent Seales, a key figure in the Vesuvius Challenge, said, “We’re finding ink traces in many new scans. But the challenge now lies in processing the scan data into coherent, readable segments.”

A New Era for Classical Scholarship

The latest advancements have caused a seismic shift in the field of classical studies. Dr. Michael McOsker, from University College London, who helped identify the Philodemus scroll, remarked on the rapid pace of progress: “In the last three to five years, the breakthroughs have been astonishing. For classicists, this is groundbreaking.” The implications of these findings extend far beyond the immediate excitement of uncovering lost texts. The ability to read and digitally preserve these fragile scrolls opens up new possibilities for reconstructing lost works of philosophy and literature that were buried for millennia.

Implications for Historical Understanding

This recent discovery is part of an ongoing effort to recover ancient texts that were thought to be lost forever. The insights these texts provide could reshape our understanding of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy. The scrolls from the Villa of the Papyri contain valuable information about intellectual life in the Roman world, providing a direct link to the thoughts and teachings of one of the greatest philosophical schools of the time. The work of Epicurean philosophers like Philodemus had a profound influence on the intellectual climate of the era, offering important lessons on ethics and personal conduct.

As the technological methods for deciphering ancient scrolls continue to improve, the field of classical studies is poised for a renaissance. The breakthroughs achieved by the Vesuvius Challenge and the researchers involved in these projects highlight the potential for future discoveries that will enrich our understanding of ancient civilizations. For now, scholars remain focused on processing the scan data and piecing together the fragmented texts, ensuring that these ancient works will be accessible to scholars and readers for generations to come.