More Philodemus from Herculaneum

TECHNOLOGY WATCH: X-ray reveals ancient Greek author of charred first century BC Vesuvius scroll. Ink traces show text is part of work by Epicurean philosopher Philodemus, burned during AD79 volcano eruption (Ian Sample, The Guardian).

A charred scroll recovered from a Roman villa that was buried under ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago has been identified as the influential work of an ancient Greek philosopher.

Researchers discovered the title and author on the Herculaneum scroll after X-raying the carbonised papyrus and virtually unwrapping it on a computer, the first time such crucial details have been gleaned from the approach.

Traces of ink lettering visible in the X-ray images revealed the text to be part of a multi-volume work, On Vices, written by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus in the first century BC. The scroll is one of three from Herculaneum housed at the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford.

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This scroll ( P.Herc. 172) was in the news earlier this year, when it was already speculated (based on several deciphered words) that it was by Philodemus. But now the researchers have found in addition the author, title, and perhaps a volume number. That confirms who wrote it, which work it was, and possibly that it was volume 1. But there's still a lot of work to do to recover any substantial part of the scroll.

Nevertheless, progress is progress and we should celebrate it. Bit by bit, a letter at a time, whatever it takes. Until we're done.

The Heculaneum library was carbonized during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. What is left of it is gradually being recovered and deciphered with cutting-edge new technology. For much more on it and on the works by the philosopher Philodemus already recovered from Heculaneum, start here (cf. here) and follow the links.

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