Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ancient Scrolls Unlocked by AI & Imaging
Ancient Scrolls Unlocked by AI & Imaging
8 Jul
Summary
- Computer scientist pursued reading carbonized scrolls thought impossible.
- Cutting-edge imaging and AI are used to digitally unlock secrets.
- Herculaneum scrolls from philosopher Philodemus of Gadara are now readable.
Computer scientist Brent Seales has dedicated himself to the seemingly impossible task of reading scrolls carbonized by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius. A new documentary, "The Vesuvius Challenge," produced by Scott Free Productions and Infinite Films in partnership with Calliope Pictures, captures this ambitious endeavor.
Utilizing cutting-edge imaging technology and artificial intelligence, Seales and his team are working to digitally decipher the contents of ancient Rome's sole surviving library. This high-stakes mission represents a significant human quest for lost knowledge and historical recovery.
Recently, scientists in Naples announced a breakthrough, successfully unwrapping and reading previously inaccessible Herculaneum scrolls. Among these are works by the philosopher Philodemus of Gadara, deciphered years after being buried by volcanic ash. This achievement marks a pivotal moment in understanding antiquity.
