The Vesuvius Challenge has announced the latest award for the identification of the first title on one of the ancient Herculaneum scrolls. The title has been unread for nearly 2,000 years, ever since the volcano erupted in 79 CE, but now innovative noninvasive techniques have recovered it from the still-rolled scroll that would have otherwise been lost to time.
The title was read independently by two parties taking part in the ongoing Vesuvius Challenge. This project was first launched in March 2023 and aimed to “make history” by encouraging individuals and teams of people to find ways to read the scrolls recovered from Herculaneum. These scrolls were once housed at the Villa Papyri, a wealthy estate that belonged to a Roman statesman until it was buried under volcanic ash and rock when Mount Vesuvius erupted.
The scrolls remained hidden until they were eventually rediscovered in the 1700s, but due to the heat and conditions that buried them, they have become carbonized and incapable of being opened. As such, their content has remained a mystery. At least, until now.
One of the parties to read the title was Sean Johnson of the Vesuvius Challenge research team who produced a segmentation and image that showed the title on the papyrus’s surface. At a similar time, a contest team made up of Marcel Roth of Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg and Micha Nowak of Gray Swan AI also identified it, while also improving ink detection methods that helped refine the text. The latter two contestants were awarded the first First Title Prize of $60,000.
The two have been working on the Vesuvius Challenge for some time and this is just the latest prize they have been awarded.
According to this collective work, the title of the scroll, known as PHerc. 172 from the Bodleian Library, Oxford, is On Vices, by the author Philodemus, an Epicurean philosopher and poet who was popular in Herculaneum where he lived until his death in around 40 or 35 BCE. The scroll also includes a rare book number which appears to be “Book 1”, but this remains unclear for the moment.
Although the title is just On Vices, it is likely that the full version of the title is On Vices and Their Opposite Virtues and In Whom They Are and About What (Περὶ κακιῶν καὶ τῶν ἀντικειμένων ἀρετῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν οἷϲ εἰϲι καὶ περὶ ἅ), which contained 10 books with others covering themes such as arrogance, greed, household management, and flattery.
The text layout of PHerc. 172 is a little unusual. So far, this is the first scroll that contains a book number on the same line as the title itself. Generally speaking, the author’s name, the title, and the number are each given their own center-justified line. It is currently unknown why this scroll is different, but it could indicate that this was a draft copy of On Vices. However, this is not likely as the title has been framed by decorative dashes above and below it.
The inclusion of the book number has raised additional questions. It is generally known that the first book of On Vices was titled On Flattery, which has been established from unrolled papyri. However, Michael McOsker from University College London and Oxford University, who is also a papyrologist with the Vesuvius Challenge, has noted the text of PHerc. 172 does not conform to that of this book. It suggests that if this is indeed book one, then further analysis may improve the overall understanding of this work.
Ink detection performed on the scroll continues to be refined. It seems there is a significant amount of text on this rolled up scroll which is gradually being revealed as autosegmentation techniques improve. Perhaps we will learn more about the secrets this copy of On Vices holds as they develop further.
Source Link: Title Of Ancient Burnt Herculaneum Scroll Identified For First Time In 2,000 Years
