Revolutionizing Ancient Greek Philosophy: The Role of AI in Deciphering Burnt Scrolls from Herculaneum
3 min read
The ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, located near the infamous Mount Vesuvius, has long been a source of fascination for scholars and historians alike. This once luxurious settlement, which thrived during the Roman era, was tragically buried under volcanic debris during the catastrophic eruption of 79 AD. Among the ruins, hundreds of papyrus scrolls were discovered, each holding the potential to shed light on the philosophical, cultural, and historical aspects of ancient Greece. However, the high temperatures of the eruption had carbonized and preserved these texts, making them unreadable due to their charred state.
The challenge of deciphering these ancient scrolls has captivated the minds of scholars for centuries. In the 18th century, when the first batch of these texts was discovered, scholars were unable to unroll them without causing them to fall apart. Despite the frustration, the fact that these texts had been preserved was a saving grace. Fast forward to the 21st century, and a breakthrough came in the form of high-resolution CT scans, which allowed scholars to unroll the texts without damaging them. However, the black carbon ink used on the scrolls remained indecipherable from the papyrus itself.
Enter the Vesuvius Challenge, a $1m (£790,000) prize launched by Dr. Brent Seales and his team at the University of Kentucky. The goal was to find a solution to decipher the ancient Greek text on the scrolls. A team of three students, Youssef Nader, Luke Farritor, and Julian Schillinger, not working in philosophy but in tech, saw an opportunity to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to the problem.
The students built an AI model that used pattern recognition to decipher the lettering on the scrolls. Dr. Federica, a papyrology researcher at the University of Naples, expressed her excitement about the potential impact of this breakthrough: “This is the start of a revolution in Greek philosophy in general.”
The AI model has so far deciphered 2,000 Greek characters from one of the four scrolls scanned by Dr. Seales’ team, which represents only 5% of the text. The translated characters reveal the author discussing the sources of pleasure in life, referencing music and food. In one passage, Philodemus questions whether things in lesser quantities bring more pleasure: “as too in the case of food, we do not right away believe things that are scarce to be absolutely more pleasant than those which are abundant.”
The team behind the Vesuvius Challenge hopes that the technology can be used to read 90% of all four scrolls scanned this year and eventually all 800. This discovery not only offers a glimpse into the philosophical thoughts of ancient Greece but also opens the door to further research and understanding of the cultural and historical context of the time.
The application of AI in deciphering ancient texts is a testament to the power of technology in unlocking the secrets of the past. As we continue to explore the depths of human history, AI will undoubtedly play a crucial role in uncovering new insights and knowledge. The potential implications of this technology extend beyond the realm of ancient texts, offering possibilities for deciphering other charred or damaged texts, as well as enhancing our understanding of various aspects of human history.
In conclusion, the use of AI to decipher ancient Greek texts buried in the ruins of Herculaneum represents a significant breakthrough in the field of ancient history and philosophy. This discovery not only offers a glimpse into the philosophical thoughts of ancient Greece but also opens the door to further research and understanding of the cultural and historical context of the time. The potential implications of this technology extend beyond the realm of ancient texts, offering possibilities for deciphering other charred or damaged texts and enhancing our understanding of various aspects of human history. The future of historical research lies in the intersection of technology and human curiosity, and the application of AI to ancient texts is a shining example of this exciting new frontier.
