The content of the scroll may provide new insights into Plato’s philosophy. Details about the last night of his life could help us better understand his thoughts and perspectives in those final moments.
Plato (circa 428/427 BC – 348/347 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential thinkers in human history. He is not only renowned for his significant contributions to philosophy but also shrouded in many mysteries that continue to intrigue researchers and scholars.
Recently, a group of researchers utilized advanced technology to decode secrets from the charred scrolls buried after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (the Herculaneum scrolls) in AD 79. This scroll is believed to have been written by Philodemus of Gadara, a poet and philosopher who lived in Herculaneum, providing new details about the final resting place of Plato and even his last night.
Mosaic of Plato’s Academy (from Pompeii, circa 100 BC to AD 100), where the philosopher was buried.
By using optical coherence tomography, hyperspectral imaging, and machine learning techniques, researchers from the Greek Schools research project were able to scan the characters “stuck” in the charred scroll. They decoded approximately 1,000 words, <strong illuminating the last days and death of Plato.
Previously, we knew that Plato was buried at the Academy, the philosophical institution he founded in Athens, but the exact location of his burial remained a mystery. However, an ancient scroll from the city of Herculaneum, similar to Pompeii, which was devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius, has now provided researchers with a new clue.
According to Professor Graziano Ranocchia, the lead researcher of the project, the text describes Plato resting in a private garden near the temple of the Muses at the Academy. This private garden is considered a sacred space dedicated to Plato within the school grounds.
Images of charred papyrus fragments found in Herculaneum, buried in ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius 1,945 years ago.
The scroll also provides a glimpse into Plato’s final moments. While we previously knew he passed away around 347 BC, detailed information about his departure has been scarce. The newly decoded text reveals that Plato spent his last evening listening to music, but with a characteristic inclination. Even in his weakened state, the philosopher could discern faults in the musician’s rhythm. This anecdote, though seemingly trivial, offers an intriguing perspective on Plato’s character—a person dedicated to reason and order even in his final moments.
Interestingly, this scroll also challenges previous beliefs about Plato’s life. Before this discovery, historians believed that Plato was sold into slavery in Sicily around 387 BC. However, information from this scroll suggests that he may have been enslaved earlier, possibly on the island of Aegina in 404 BC or 399 BC. This shift in the timeline could prompt a reevaluation of certain periods in Plato’s life.
Optical rendering of a carbonized scroll. This image includes six rounds of AI training, where each time a column was separated for prediction and evaluation.
Another fascinating aspect of the research is the technology used to decode the scroll. Due to their age, over 1,800 charred papyrus scrolls, preserved in ash from the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius at the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum, could not be opened directly as this would result in their complete destruction.
Initial attempts to open the scrolls, discovered by a farm worker in 1750, led to their destruction, resulting in permanent loss of content. However, last year marked a significant breakthrough when the word “purple” was decoded from an unopened papyrus scroll, earning a reward of $40,000 for the discoverer.
In 2015, at the University of Kentucky, data was extracted from a Dead Sea scroll using X-ray tomography and computer vision technology, combined with artificial intelligence. Similarly, for the Herculaneum scrolls, AI has been employed to identify ink locations on unopened papyrus scrolls and decode them.
The Herculaneum scrolls remain a treasure trove of ancient knowledge, offering glimpses into the past. While decoding these fragile artifacts is a challenging process, the rewards are substantial. In the case of Plato, we gain deeper insights into the man behind this philosophy and perhaps even a renewed respect for his musical critique!
