guy Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I hope that this isn't a repost, but it is interesting: Published on Apr 29, 2015 In 1752, an ancient library was discovered at Herculaneum, buried beneath the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. Astonishingly, nearly 2000 carbonized papyrus rolls were preserved, though some were so badly burned they looked like pieces of charcoal. While some texts from the philosophical library have been published, many of the papyri have yet to be unrolled or read. OUT OF THE ASHES: RECOVERING THE LOST LIBRARY OF HERCULANEUM follows attempts over 250 years to unroll and decipher these precious manuscripts. It also describes modern efforts to use sophisticated multi-spectral imaging technology to read the blackened fragments. Today, 21st century scholars continue to debate the future of the original Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum, where the scrolls were all found. The site was never fully excavated and recent discoveries have led many scholars to believe that other scrolls — and perhaps another entire library — may still be buried there. Shot in High definition, this fascinating film features the insight of international experts and prominent scholars from the University of Naples, Oxford, University of California/Los Angeles, Brigham Young University, Texas A&M University, the Getty Research Institute and the British School of Rome. Produced, Written and Directed by Julie Walker A KBYU/BYU Television Production http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpTunZJ845I guy also known as gaius 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 ...thanks for that! Pretty amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indianasmith Posted June 6, 2015 Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 I wonder how many lost works of antiquity might be in that library, or yet unexcavated at Herculaneum and Pompeii! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 (edited) I wonder how many lost works of antiquity might be in that library, or yet unexcavated at Herculaneum and Pompeii! I imagine that most the texts salvaged will just be more philosphical musings. Hopefully, some of the "lost" Greek plays will be discovered. We can hope, as Romanophiles, that the scrolls include important lost works such as lost parts of Livy's history or the Emperor Claudius's works on Carthage or the Etruscans. It is sad to think that many of the carbonized papyrus scrolls were carelessly destroyed by more modern "researchers." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_of_the_Papyri http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ancient-scrolls-blackened-vesuvius-are-readable-last-herculaneum-papyri-180953950/?no-ist guy also known as gaius Edited June 6, 2015 by guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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