BREAKTHROUGH REVEALED: Ancient Roman Scroll Unrolled Virtually After 2,000 Years
In a shocking turn of events, an ancient Roman scroll that was thought to be impossible to unroll has finally been deciphered using X-rays and artificial intelligence. The scroll, dubbed P.Herc.Paris.3 or “Banana Boy” due to its shape and color, was found in the ruins of a villa in the Roman town of Herculaneum, which was destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.
The unrolling process proved to be a daunting task as the scrolls had been charred and were extremely fragile. Previous attempts to physically unroll them caused them to disintegrate, leaving behind fragments that were nearly impossible to read. However, thanks to the use of X-rays and AI technology, glimpses of the scroll’s contents have finally been revealed.
The breakthrough came when computer-science student Luke Farritor and robotics student Youssef Nader discovered the word “porphyras,” meaning “purple” in ancient Greek. Their findings earned them prizes totaling $50,000. Nader even produced an image from the scroll showing four columns of text side by side, hinting at the potential treasures hidden within.
Experts believe that the villa to which the scroll belonged was owned by Lucius Calpurnius Piso, Julius Caesar’s father-in-law. If the other scrolls in the library can be deciphered, it could significantly expand the number of texts that have survived from ancient times. There is speculation about forgotten plays, lost works of philosophy, or even unknown poems by Homer.
Previous attempts to read the scrolls involved various methods, including using weights on strings to unroll them slowly. However, these methods proved to be fruitless as the scrolls simply fell apart or were too difficult to read due to the charred papyrus and ink. It wasn’t until recent advancements in technology that the possibility of virtually unrolling the scrolls became a reality.
Computer scientist W. Brent Seales, along with his team, used a combination of CT scans, infrared imaging, and powerful X-ray light to create detailed images of the scrolls’ internal structures and reveal the presence of ink. This breakthrough showed that digitally unrolling carbonized scrolls and deciphering their contents was indeed possible.
To further advance their research, technology executive Nat Friedman and entrepreneur Daniel Gross launched the Vesuvius Challenge, a contest with a prize fund totaling over $1 million. More than 1,200 teams competed and made significant progress in improving the ink-detection and segmentation processes.
Now, with the first words from Banana Boy revealed, the door to unlocking the secrets of the ancient Roman scrolls has been opened. What other incredible discoveries lie within these 2,000-year-old texts? Only time will tell.
What do you think about this groundbreaking discovery? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below! Let the speculation begin!
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