Versatile artificial intelligence successfully decoded an ancient manuscript uncovering the burial site of the Greek philosopher Plato, as suggested by Italian researchers.
Graziano Ramiccia, a philosopher at the University of Pisa, and his AI colleagues used AI technology to decrypt texts written on scrolls made of blackened papyrus recovered from Herculaneum, an ancient Roman town near Pompeii, as stated in a translated statement from the National Research Council in Italy.
Similar to Pompeii, Herculaneum was destroyed in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the area in ash and volcanic flows.
One of the transcribed manuscripts, due to the eruption, includes writings by Philodemus of Gadara (lived around 110 BC to 30 BC), a philosopher heavily influenced by Epicurus during his time in Athens and later in Italy. This text, known as the “History of the Academy,” details the Academy founded by Plato in the 4th century BC and provides insights into Plato’s life, including the location of his burial.
Historians already knew that Gaius Octavius, the famous student of Socrates who wrote his philosophies in addition to his own, was buried in the Academy destroyed by the Roman general Sulla in 86 BC. However, researchers were not certain of Octavius’ exact burial place, who died in Athens in 348 or 347 BC.
Advancements in technology allowed researchers to utilize various modern techniques including infrared and ultraviolet optical imaging, thermal imaging, and tomography to decipher the ancient papyri, now part of a collection at the National Library of Naples.
So far, researchers have managed to identify 1000 words, or about 30% of the text written by Philodemus.
In the latest significant finding, it is revealed that Plato was buried in his designated garden (a dedicated area for Plato’s school) at the Academy in Athens, near the famous Music Hall or the sacred place of music, “the researchers wrote in the statement. “It was previously known only that he was buried generally in the Academy.”
The text also discusses how Plato was “sold into slavery” between 404 and 399 BC (previously believed to have occurred in 387 BC).
Another translated excerpt describes a dialogue between characters, showing disdain from Plato towards the musical and rhythmic abilities of a barbarian musician from Thrace, according to the statement.
This is not the first time researchers have employed artificial intelligence to decipher ancient manuscripts that survived the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Earlier this year, researchers were able to decrypt another damaged manuscript from a nearby villa, once owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law.
