[bitt]

also see http://science.slashdot.org/science/05/04/17/0845214.shtml?tid=146&tid=126&tid=14

apparently we can't post from this other source: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=630165

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyrhynchus

[bitt]

http://science.slashdot.org/science/05/04/17/0845214.shtml?tid=146&tid=126&tid=14

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=630165

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxyrhynchus

[martin_fierro]

Really Old Reading Material Ping.

[hflynn]

For more than a century, it has caused excitement and frustration in equal measure – a collection of Greek and Roman writings so vast it could redraw the map of classical civilization.

When they redraw the map of classical civilization they better figure out how to air it on MTV & BET in the form of RAP or it will have absolutely no impact on culture in America.

[TomGuy]

They even believe they are likely to find lost Christian gospels, the originals of which were written around the time of the earliest books of the New Testament.

That sounds like it is right out of The Word by Irving Wallace:

Description:

In the Beginning, there was . . . The Word.

The classic thriller of an ancient manuscript, a secret society committed to hiding an explosive truth, and the man who must uncover that truth--if he can stay alive long enough

In the ruins of the ancient Roman seaport of Ostia Antica, an Italian archaeologist has discovered a first century papyrus, its faded text revealing a new gospel written by James, younger brother of Jesus. This discovery will show the world a new Jesus Christ, fill in the missing years of his ministry, contradict the existing accounts of his life--and potentially destroy the foundation of 2,000 years of Western civilization.

First published in 1972, The Word remains a classic of brilliant storytelling, authentic detail and breathtaking narrative power.

[ExGeeEye]

They even believe they are likely to find lost Christian gospels

Uh-oh...

My theology forbids me to believe that there remains undiscovered scripture in the world.

However, for the same reason I'd like unrestriced access to the Vatican Library and a staff of interpreters, I'd be interested in reading (for notional example) a letter from Luke the Physician to Paul asking how his "thorn in the flesh" was doing, and perhaps naming it (shortness of vision? a poorly healed fracture from being stoned?); or a letter from some otherwise unknown Judean finshmonger to another about how he hadn't seen Simon the Fisherman for years and then saw him preaching on a streetcorner under the name of Simon "the Rock", and how it all seemed to make some sort of sense.

Bests!

[ChadGore]

[quantim]

Ping.

[skinkinthegrass]

..wait until Woodward (WaPo) hears about this...Nixon/Casey/Ronnie/, "said this..." according to this virgin blank sheet of paper...thereby becoming ("real ghostwriting") another "True Interview" book.

[nuconvert]

papyri pong

[Bushforlife]

This material represents the works of various dead white European males, and therefore not only has no relevance in the modern world, but also deserves nothing more than to be used as fuel to heat the homes of the disadvantaged poor. "Classics" such as these were the basis of many of the evils of the modern world, such as capitalism, private individual ownership of property, and the VERY outdated notion of personal responsibility for ones' actions.

[exDemMom]

Wow, this is amazing.

What would be more interesting than the plays and poetry would be things like personal letters, which would give us an insight into how these people really lived. I wonder if stuff like that is in that collection.

[RayChuang88]

Let's see how long before Dan Brown (the author of The da Vinci Code) does another novel using these newly-decoded papyrii.

[ChocChipCookie]

Now if these had been discovered by Muslims, they would have already been destroyed. Can't have proof of any brilliant civilization, other than their own, ya know.

[SunkenCiv]

EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY UNLOCKS SECRETS OF THE ANCIENTS
The Scotsman | Sat 16 Apr 2005 | (Drudgereport.com) Scotsman.com
Posted on 04/16/2005 5:01:00 PM PDT by tricky_k_1972
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1385203/posts

[hershey]

This is marvelous, and the newly deciphered snippets are wonderful.

[pabianice]

The texts in Gao'uld are causing the most excitement.

[varon]

..........including writing by Sophocles, Euripides, Hesiod and other literary giants of the ancient world,...........(my emphasis)

Cool, now maybe we'll get some original Euripides "knock, knock" jokes ;-)

[Paul C. Jesup]

In the past four days alone, Oxford’s classicists have used it to make a series of astonishing discoveries, including writing by Sophocles, Euripides, Hesiod and other literary giants of the ancient world, lost for millennia. They even believe they are likely to find lost Christian gospels, the originals of which were written around the time of the earliest books of the New Testament.

I am sure the Catholic Church in Rome is going to have indigestion over this.

But I say, BRING ON THE CLASSICS!!!!

[Cowboy Bob]

Any chance these documents could have come from the library in Alexandria, Egypt?

[SunkenCiv]

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The Vanished Library by Luciano Canfora tr by Martin Ryle

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