The UnXplained: Shocking Ancient Mysteries Will Blow Your Mind!

HISTORY16 minutes read

The discovery of the Villa De Papy in Pompei led to the development of technology to scan and read ancient scrolls, potentially containing early Christian material. Additionally, the Antikythera Mechanism, a Greek analog computer found in a Roman-era shipwreck, revealed advanced celestial tracking capabilities through 3D scanning in 2005.

Insights

  • University of Kentucky scientists developed technology to scan and read ancient scrolls from Villa De Papy, offering insights into poetry, literary criticism, and history from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD.
  • The Antikythera Mechanism, identified by physicist Derek John de Solla Price, was an ancient Greek analog computer found in a Roman-era shipwreck off Antikythera, Greece, showcasing remarkable accuracy in tracking celestial movements and eclipses through 3D scanning technology.

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Recent questions

  • What significant event occurred in Pompei in 79 AD?

    Volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius.

  • What technology was used to read ancient scrolls found in Villa De Papy?

    Virtual unwrapping technology.

  • What was the mysterious object found in the Roman-era shipwreck off Antikythera?

    Antikythera Mechanism.

  • What disaster struck Lisbon, Portugal, in 1755?

    Devastating earthquake.

  • What significant discovery was made near Stonehenge in 2008?

    50% of skeletons found were not local.

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Summary

00:00

Ancient Discoveries: Pompei to Antikythera to Lisbon

  • Pompei, Italy, in 79 AD, experienced a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius, burying the city in superheated gas and lava, preserving it for nearly 2,000 years.
  • The Villa De Papy, a Roman luxury villa near Pompei, was discovered in 1750, containing sculptures, marbles, and a library with over 1,800 papyrus scrolls.
  • Scientists at the University of Kentucky developed virtual unwrapping technology to scan and read the ancient scrolls without damaging them, revealing texts from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD.
  • The scrolls found in the Villa De Papy library include poetry, literary criticism, and history, with some tightly bound and carbonized, making them challenging to open.
  • The possibility of finding Apostle Paul's original letters in the scrolls could provide early Christian material dating back to the time of Christ and his disciples.
  • Off the coast of Antikythera, Greece, divers discovered a Roman-era shipwreck in 1900, yielding priceless artifacts, including a mysterious geared object resembling a clock.
  • British physicist Derek John de Solla Price identified the object as the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer designed to display the positions of planets, the sun, and the moon.
  • The mechanism's inner workings were revealed through 3D scanning technology in 2005, showcasing its accuracy in tracking celestial movements and eclipses.
  • Lisbon, Portugal, was struck by a devastating earthquake on November 1, 1755, during All Saints Day celebrations, destroying 85% of the city and claiming up to 50,000 lives.
  • Portugal's Prime Minister, the Marquis of Pombal, implemented earthquake-resistant building designs and a gridiron street system in Lisbon's reconstruction, pioneering modern disaster response strategies.

19:53

Ancient Skeletons Near Stonehenge Reveal Healing Traditions

  • Thousands of ancient skeletons with various afflictions have been found around Stonehenge, including physical injuries like broken bones and abscesses, suggesting a lack of proper medical care in ancient times.
  • In 2008, a significant discovery revealed that 50% of the skeletons found near Stonehenge were not from the area, indicating that people may have traveled there for healing purposes. The blue stones inside Stonehenge, sourced from Southwest Wales, were believed to have healing properties, with folklore suggesting they were used in conjunction with water for promoting health based on the power of nature and belief rather than medical science.
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