Discovery and Challenges of the Herculaneum Papyri

Exploring the challenges and techniques involved in deciphering the damaged ancient scrolls found at Herculaneum, leading to their preservation at the National Library of Naples.

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In the mid-18th century, excavations in the ancient town of Herculaneum, just outside the city of Pompeii and destroyed by the same volcano, discovered something….interesting.

They found a villa that contained 1800 ancient scrolls. Unfortunately, the volcano's heat carbonized them, making them illegible and incredibly fragile. Still, for over 250 years, scholars have hoped that techniques would eventually be developed to allow these scrolls to be read.

That day may have finally arrived.

Learn more about the Herculaneum Papyri and the attempts to read and preserve their ancient knowledge on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

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