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Out of the Ashes: Recovering the Lost Library of Herculaneum (2003)

Brigham Young University・38 minutes read

Scholars are studying charred scrolls from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD found in Herculaneum, using new technologies for decryption. The scrolls offer insights into life in Pompeii and Herculaneum in the Roman Empire, with scholars hoping to find more texts and preserve the existing papyri fragments.

Insights

  • Scholars are utilizing new technologies, including multi-spectral imaging, to decipher charred scrolls from Herculaneum, shedding light on life in Pompeii and Herculaneum in the Roman Empire.
  • The Herculaneum papyri, preserved through carbonization, are a valuable historical resource that, despite not mentioning early religious movements like Christianity, offer insights into Roman intellectual life and the philosophical teachings of figures like Philodemus.

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Recent questions

  • What significant event occurred in 79 AD?

    Mount Vesuvius erupted.

  • What is the significance of the Villa de Papyri?

    It holds a significant collection of papyri scrolls.

  • How are scholars deciphering the charred scrolls?

    Utilizing new technologies for reading blackened pages.

  • What insights do Pompeii and Herculaneum offer?

    Insights into life in the Roman Empire.

  • What is the current state of the Herculaneum papyri?

    Deteriorating rapidly, prompting digital preservation efforts.

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Summary

00:00

Ancient scrolls preserved in Vesuvius eruption.

  • In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, preserving a library of ancient scrolls in Herculaneum.
  • 1,800 rolls of papyri were found in one villa in Herculanum, a remarkable discovery.
  • Scholars aim to decipher these charred scrolls to understand life in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
  • New technologies are being utilized to read the blackened pages after 250 years.
  • The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD preserved the scrolls through carbonization.
  • Scholars at the National Library in Naples are working to recover writings from the ancient library.
  • Pompeii and Herculaneum offer insights into life in the Roman Empire in the first century.
  • Pompeii and Herculaneum, sister cities, showcase distinct personalities and lifestyles.
  • Herculaneum, a refined seaside town, boasts luxurious villas and rich cultural connections.
  • The Villa de Papyri, owned by Lucius Calpurnius Piso, holds a significant collection of papyri scrolls and valuable artifacts.

15:58

Unrolling Papyri: Ancient Texts Revealed Through Innovation

  • Paderni developed a technique to saw papyri in half to access the text on the external layer.
  • Visiting scientists, including the prince, attempted various methods to unroll the scrolls, such as using liquid mercury and chemical solvents.
  • Sir Humphrey Davy's chemical experiments in the 1820s only resulted in breaking the scrolls into fragments.
  • The Vatican sent a conservator, Antonio Piaggio, to Naples to assist in unrolling the papyri, using a delicate method involving animal membrane.
  • Unrolling the scrolls was a slow process, taking four years for the first papyrus, proceeding at a rate of millimeters per day.
  • The Neapolitan monarchy considered the unrolled scrolls as political currency, with various individuals and courts showing interest in them.
  • An exchange of 18 kangaroos for 18 scrolls of papyrus occurred between the King of Naples and the Prince Regent in the early 19th century.
  • Reverend John Hayter played a crucial role in unrolling and documenting the scrolls, with his drawings now residing in the Bodleian Museum at Oxford.
  • The Oslo method, using special glues to stabilize scroll fragments, is the most recent innovation for unrolling papyri, revealing text through multi-spectral imaging.
  • Multi-spectral imaging technology, initially developed for NASA, has been used to reveal hidden text on carbonized papyri, impressing skeptical papyrologists in Naples.

30:00

"Multispectral images reveal hidden text on papyrus"

  • Multispectral images reveal hidden text on papyrus not visible to the human eye.
  • Different filters like 450 NM and 1,000 nanometers are used to capture images in visible light and infrared.
  • The infrared images show clearer text compared to visible light images.
  • Papyrus number 1050, a philosophical text, is being studied for over half a century.
  • The new images will require scholars to revise old readings and publications.
  • The Villa of the Papyri housed a school of philosophy led by Philodemus.
  • Epicurean beliefs and writings provide insight into Roman intellectual life in the first century.
  • The scrolls do not mention early religious movements like Christianity.
  • The Herculaneum papyri are unlikely to contain Christian references due to their age and ownership.
  • Scholars hope to find more texts, possibly another library, buried at Herculaneum.

45:41

"Preserving Herculaneum: Challenges and Solutions"

  • Water seeping down around the excavation may be damaging the papyrus rolls, emphasizing the importance of continuing the excavations.
  • Marcello Gigante is eager to explore the unexcavated part of the villa, highlighting the anticipation surrounding further archaeological work.
  • J. Paul Getty's replica of the Villa of the Papyri in Malibu, California, offers a glimpse into the original villa's grandeur based on 18th-century floor plans.
  • Preservation of the already excavated parts of the original Villa of the Papyri is prioritized over new excavations due to challenges in conserving archaeological objects.
  • The Herculaneum papyri are deteriorating rapidly, prompting efforts to digitally preserve over 10,000 scroll fragments to ensure their survival.
  • Mount Vesuvius serves as a constant reminder of the ancient tragedy that befell the cities, emphasizing the need to preserve and understand the past through archaeological efforts.
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