Unraveling the Ancient Scroll PHerc 1667
On June 28 at 8:00 AM, the ongoing study of the ancient scroll PHerc 1667—discovered in the Roman city of Herculaneum—continues to astonish researchers. This scroll was burned during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE and is now being analyzed using a combination of X-rays and artificial intelligence algorithms. This technology enables scholars to read the text without ever unrolling the fragile artifact, greatly simplifying the research process.
PHerc 1667 may date back two to three centuries before the Vesuvius eruption. The scroll was snapped in half and now measures just 8 cm (3.15 inches) in length. Preliminary analysis suggests the author could be the Greek philosopher Chrysippus, a prominent figure in the Stoic school of thought.
New Discoveries in Herculaneum
Meanwhile, research in Herculaneum extends beyond this single scroll. Recently, the brain of a Vesuvius victim was found to have been turned into glass. The remains of a young man were uncovered in the Collegium Augustalium building, where he lay face down on a wooden bed. Fragments of a glass-like material were detected inside his skull and spine. A team led by volcanologist Guido Giordano from Roma Tre University determined that the tissue had been heated to at least 510 degrees Celsius. Glass rarely forms from organic matter, making this find especially unique.
In this way, modern technologies like artificial intelligence are opening new frontiers for studying ancient texts and helping to investigate human history—particularly events linked to the Vesuvius eruption. These discoveries not only expand our understanding of ancient philosophy but also deepen our knowledge of how natural disasters impacted people’s lives in the past.
- Analyzing ancient materials allows us to better grasp not only the cultural context of the era,
- but also the broader societal consequences of such catastrophes.