Herculaneum Scrolls Deciphered by Student, Yet Their Unfurling Poses a Dilemma
Scientists announced a competition. The task is to harness artificial intelligence to decipher an ancient treasure. It consists of scrolls from the library in Herculaneum, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. There is already a first winner.
On August 24, 79 AD, one of the greatest tragedies of antiquity occurred. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius incinerated and buried Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae under layers of ash. In the first two towns, now famous thanks to the work of archaeologists, the remains of 1500 of their former inhabitants were found.
The volcanic eruption not only claimed human lives but also covered buildings and everything inside with ash. One of these buildings was the so-called Villa of the Papyri. It was the most famous of the luxurious villas in Herculaneum, believed to belong to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law. It included an ancient library, most likely situated on one of the four terraces descending to the sea.
Remains of the Villa of the Papyri were discovered two hundred and fifty years ago. During the initial excavations in Herculaneum in the mid-18th century, workers unearthed several scrolls from the library. They were charred and impossible to read. More scrolls were discovered later.
