Deciphering the ancient scrolls of Herculaneum | 60 Minutes Archive
TLDRThe video script narrates the intriguing story of Herculaneum, an ancient Roman city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, alongside Pompeii. Unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum's rediscovery in the 1700s unveiled a treasure trove of papyrus scrolls, potentially containing lost Greek and Latin masterpieces and possibly early Christian texts. The scrolls, however, were too fragile to be unrolled without breaking. Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, proposed using modern medical imaging technology to non-invasively read the scrolls. Despite initial setbacks and academic competition, particularly with Italian scholars who used a synchrotron to peer inside the scrolls, Seales successfully applied his algorithms to a charred scroll from the Dead Sea, revealing the oldest known text of the Bible. His work has now garnered consideration for access to the Herculaneum scrolls, promising a potential breakthrough in unveiling their long-hidden secrets.
Takeaways
- π The ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, like Pompeii, was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
- π Herculaneum's library contained papyrus scrolls that are believed to hold significant ancient Western wisdom, possibly including unknown works and early Christian writings.
- π The scrolls were preserved but are too fragile to be unrolled without breaking, leading to a long-standing challenge to read their contents.
- π° Herculaneum was a wealthy resort town, often compared to modern-day Malibu, and was home to an opulent villa that belonged to Julius Caesar's family.
- ποΈ The modern city of Ercolano is built over the ancient city, with the excavation site revealing the well-preserved remains of Herculaneum.
- π§ Scholars have been trying to open the scrolls since their discovery, but all attempts have led to fragmented results.
- π‘ Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, proposed using medical imaging technology to non-invasively read the scrolls.
- π€ Brent Seales faced competition from Italian scholars who also pursued the use of synchrotron technology to scan the scrolls.
- π The Italian scholars, Machella and Renia, claimed success in seeing letters and phrases within the scrolls, gaining international recognition.
- π€ Brent Seales remained skeptical of the Italian findings, stating that he could not replicate their results and that wishful thinking should not replace scientific rigor.
- π Seales' algorithms and software were proven successful in revealing text from a charred scroll found near the Dead Sea, offering hope for the Herculaneum scrolls.
Q & A
What is the significance of Herculaneum in the context of ancient Roman history?
-Herculaneum was an ancient Roman city that was destroyed along with Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. It is significant because it was a wealthy and opulent city, often referred to as the 'Malibu of the Roman Empire,' and its rediscovery in the 1700s led to the unearthing of a library filled with papyrus scrolls, which are considered a rich repository of ancient Western wisdom.
What is the primary challenge in studying the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-The Herculaneum Scrolls are charred and brittle due to the intense heat from the volcanic eruption, making them extremely fragile. The primary challenge is that no one has been able to open them without breaking them into pieces, which has prevented scholars from reading the potentially valuable information they contain.
What is the potential content of the Herculaneum Scrolls that has scholars excited?
-Scholars believe the Herculaneum Scrolls may contain unknown Greek and Latin masterpieces, possibly early Christian writings, and even the first references to Jesus. The scrolls are thought to hold significant historical, literary, and religious texts that have been lost to time.
Who is Andrew Wallace-Hadel and what is his role in the study of Herculaneum?
-Andrew Wallace-Hadel is the founding director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project. He has been instrumental in guiding and showcasing the excavation site and its importance, providing insights into the preservation and the potential escape or shelter-seeking behaviors of the inhabitants during the volcanic eruption.
What innovative approach did Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, propose to read the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-Brent Seales proposed using modern medical imaging technology, specifically CT scans or MRIs, to see inside the scrolls non-invasively. His idea was to apply this non-destructive technology to virtually unroll and read the scrolls, which could potentially reveal their contents without causing further damage.
What is a synchrotron and how was it used in the study of the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-A synchrotron is a device that generates extremely powerful X-rays using electrons that race around a ring at nearly the speed of light. It is used in this context to peer inside the scrolls with a beam 100 billion times stronger than a hospital X-ray, allowing scholars to see inside the scrolls without unrolling them.
What controversy arose among scholars regarding the use of a synchrotron to study the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-A controversy arose when two Italian scholars, veto Machella and Gratiano Renier, claimed to have had the idea to use a synchrotron before Brent Seales. This led to a competitive race to be the first to reveal the contents of the scrolls, with accusations of idea theft and sabotage among the scholars.
What was the outcome of the Italian scholars' use of the synchrotron on the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-The Italian scholars, Machella and Renier, claimed to have successfully used the synchrotron to see letters and phrases inside the scrolls, which won them international praise. However, their findings have been met with skepticism by Brent Seales, who was unable to replicate their results.
What alternative project did Brent Seales pursue when he was denied access to the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-When denied access to the Herculaneum Scrolls, Brent Seales turned to a charred fragment of a 1,700-year-old scroll from a burned synagogue near the Dead Sea. Using his software, he was able to reveal the oldest text of the Bible as we know it today, specifically the first two chapters of Leviticus.
What is the current status of Brent Seales' potential access to the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-After his successful work on the Dead Sea scroll, the Naples Library, which had previously denied Brent Seales access to the Herculaneum Scrolls, is now considering granting him access. Seales remains convinced that the secrets of Herculaneum, locked away for 2,000 years, are within reach.
What is the broader significance of the efforts to read the Herculaneum Scrolls?
-The efforts to read the Herculaneum Scrolls are significant because they represent a potential treasure trove of historical, literary, and religious knowledge from a period of antiquity that has been largely inaccessible. Successfully reading these scrolls could greatly enhance our understanding of ancient Western culture and history.
How does the competition among scholars to read the Herculaneum Scrolls reflect the broader academic community?
-The competition among scholars to read the Herculaneum Scrolls reflects the high stakes and intense dedication within the academic community. It shows how the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make groundbreaking discoveries can lead to both collaboration and rivalry among researchers.
Outlines
ποΈ Herculaneum: The Buried Treasure of Ancient Wisdom
The first paragraph introduces Herculaneum, an ancient Roman city neighboring Pompeii, which was also destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum is less known but potentially holds a wealth of ancient knowledge. Excavations in the 1700s revealed a library with charred papyrus scrolls that are believed to contain undiscovered Greek and Latin masterpieces, possibly early Christian writings, and even the first references to Jesus. The scrolls, however, are too fragile to be unrolled without breaking. The narrative then shifts to the modern city of Ercolano, built over the ancient city, and introduces Andrew Wallace Hadel, the founding director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project, who guides us through the excavation site. The paradox of the city's catastrophic destruction leading to exceptional preservation is highlighted, with the ancient town being compared to a fossil in amber, frozen in time.
π¬ Unraveling the Mystery of the Herculaneum Scrolls
The second paragraph delves into the efforts of Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, who proposed using modern medical imaging technology to non-invasively examine the ancient scrolls. Seales, known for digitally restoring damaged medieval manuscripts, saw the Herculaneum scrolls as the ultimate challenge. Despite the difficulty of obtaining the scrolls for examination, Seales and his students developed algorithms and software to virtually unroll the scrolls. However, the process was met with skepticism and competition from two Italian scholars, Veto Machella and Gratiano Rennia, who also sought to use a synchrotron, a powerful X-ray technology, to peer inside the scrolls. This led to a contentious academic rivalry, with accusations of idea theft and sabotage, as all parties vied to be the first to reveal the scrolls' contents.
π The Race to Read Herculaneum's Charred Scrolls
The third paragraph continues the narrative of the academic competition to unlock the Herculaneum scrolls. The Italian scholars, Machella and Rennia, managed to gain access to a few scrolls and used a synchrotron in France to scan them. Machella claimed to see letters, while Rennia claimed to see phrases, leading to international recognition. However, Brent Seales, unable to replicate their results, remained skeptical and continued to refine his algorithms. In a separate project, Seales successfully used his software to reveal text from a severely damaged 1,700-year-old scroll from a synagogue near the Dead Sea, proving the potential of his technology. This success led the Naples Library, which had previously denied Seales access to the Herculaneum scrolls, to reconsider, and Seales remains hopeful that the secrets of Herculaneum, locked away for 2,000 years, are within reach.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Pompeii
π‘Herculaneum
π‘Mount Vesuvius
π‘Papyrus Scrolls
π‘Volcanic Heat
π‘Ancient Western Wisdom
π‘Andrew Wallace-Hadel
π‘Synchrotron
π‘Brent Seales
π‘Non-Invasive Imaging
π‘Algorithms
Highlights
The ancient Roman city of Herculaneum, like Pompeii, was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Excavators in the 1700s discovered a library filled with papyrus scrolls, potentially containing unknown Greek, Latin, and early Christian writings.
Volcanic heat charred and brittled the scrolls, making them extremely fragile and difficult to open without breaking.
The city of Ercolano, Italy, is built on top of the ancient city of Herculaneum, with a rich archaeological site.
Andrew Wallace-Hadel, the founding director of the Herculaneum Conservation Project, provides a guided tour of the excavation site.
The paradox of Herculaneum's preservation: catastrophic destruction led to exceptional preservation, like a fossil in amber.
Early excavators found an opulent villa, which is now thought to be a recreation of Julius Caesar's summer retreat.
The greatest treasures of Herculaneum are the 1,800 ancient books written on papyrus, found in the only remaining intact library from the ancient world.
Massimo Osana, former administrator of Herculaneum and Pompeii, suggests there could be hundreds more scrolls yet to be discovered.
Scholars have been attempting to open the scrolls since their discovery, but all attempts have resulted in fragmentation.
Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, proposed using modern medical imaging technology to non-invasively examine the scrolls.
Seales' idea was to adapt CT scan and MRI technology, commonly used in medicine, for examining the scrolls.
After years of trial and error, Seales and his students developed algorithms and software to virtually unroll the scrolls.
Access to the scrolls is extremely limited due to their rarity and fragility, making it difficult for researchers to study them.
Two Italian scholars, Machella and Renia, claimed to have had the same idea as Seales to use a synchrotron for scanning the scrolls.
Machella and Renia were granted limited access to a few scrolls and reported seeing letters and phrases within them.
Seales' software has been successful in revealing ancient Hebrew script from a 1,700-year-old scroll, the oldest text of the Bible known today.
The Naples Library, which initially denied Seales access, is now considering granting him the opportunity to study the Herculaneum Scrolls.
Seales is confident that the secrets of Herculaneum, locked away for 2,000 years, are within reach using his technology.
Transcripts
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