Millionaire to fund dig for lost Roman library [Villa of the Papyri]

The Times [London, UK] ^ | Feb 13, 2005 | Nick Fielding

[RightWingAtheist]

Thanks. Great pic, BTW!

[Mike Fieschko]

Unless lava did not actually enter the library, wouldn't anything written on parchment been burnt to cinders?

From the site I linked in post #3:

Scientists have discovered new ways to read 1,800 charred manuscript scrolls already found in the ruins of the so-called Villa of Papyri at Herculaneum ...

The Herculaneum Society meeting gasped like spectators at a firework display when Nigel Wilson, of Lincoln College, Oxford, showed a slide of a blackened roll of papyrus on which no writing could be seen, and then showed what it looked like after multi-spectral digital imaging had been used on it. Clear lines of ancient Greek script appeared, like invisible ink held before the fire.

[blam]

Excellent.

Sounds like something I'd do if I had their money...except, I'd go in an get some dirt on my hands.

[Bahbah]

Sounds like something I'd do if I had their money...except, I'd go in an get some dirt on my hands.

That was exactly my reaction.

[Bohemund]

I sure hope they bring to light lost classical works. But if I recall correctly, they have already found one library and its contents in the villa; this excavation is being mounted in hopes of finding a second library there.

[Guvmint_Cheese]

That's truly fascinating. The wife and I were in Naples two months ago and went to Pompeii. We unfortunately didn't have time to see Herculaneum.

I look forward to seeing what comes of the dig!

[Publius6961]

but outside of that, I can't imagine anything written to have survived a lava flow.

Imagine harder.
Many of the charred manuscripts were discovered in the early 20th century and dumped in the sea when assumed to be lumps of coal. Currently these same type of black lumps are being scanned, read and transcribed.

[Mike Fieschko]

if I recall correctly, they have already found one library and its contents in the villa

You might be right. I've only heard that some writings which slaves were trying to save, were recovered.

[Plutarch]

It is believed that there are thousands more scrolls in the building, much of which lies beneath the modern town of Ercolano, and that they may include lost works by Aristotle, Livy and Sappho.

Lots of maybes there. Maybe Geraldo can do a live shot of the library unearthing, like Capone's vault.

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks for the ping. I sure hope thousands of manuscripts are found!! :-)

[SunkenCiv]

Missed this one too.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[PianoMan]

If I'm not mistaken, we think we may only have student notes from his lectures!

The Romans praised Aristotle's dialogues to the sky. To catch even one, let alone several, is such a thought that I can't believe this project was in disrepair!

[wildbill]

Absolutely one of the most exciting digs in recent history--and thank God it comes now, when we have the technology to decipher the charred scrolls. Any earlier and they might have been damaged or scrapped.

Now if they could just find the Alexandria library...

[Doc Savage]

I borrowed a copy of Roman Whores and Aberrant Sex Practices of the Gods in 78AD and never returned it. I'm worried about my fine now!

[BootsOnTheGround]

"Now if they could just find the Alexandria library..."

I JUST FOUND THE ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY!!!

Don't archeaologists know how to google? Here it is:

http://www.alexandria.lib.va.us/

[wildbill]

LOL.

[BootsOnTheGround]

If there is a Nobel Prize for Archeology I better start learning Swedish.

[lepton]

Considering the eruption occurred in 79 AD, it's doubtful that there is any reference to Christ in the documents. Most of the early Christian writings occurred after that.

I know this is a really delayed post, but anyways:

That's one theory. It seems to me that it's pretty unlikely that they were written after the destruction of the Temple, given that there is no mention of the event. 72 AD?

[lepton]

If I'm not on the GGG list, can you add me please?

[Quix]

We have parts of The Gospels from within 30-60 years of Christ's Ascension.

I think Josh McDowell's site has such data.