In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have successfully identified a carbonized scroll from the ancient Roman villa of Herculaneum, revealing the long-lost work of Greek philosopher Philodemus. This marks the first time scholars have been able to digitally unroll a charred scroll and identify its contents using advanced 3D X-ray technology. The scroll, preserved in the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford, is part of Philodemus’ significant philosophical treatise, On Vices, providing fresh insights into ancient texts long thought lost.

Revolutionary Technology Uncovers Ancient Philosophy

The scroll, designated PHerc. 172, was uncovered in the Villa of the Papyri, an opulent estate buried during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. This villa, believed to have belonged to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law, contained hundreds of scrolls that were carbonized by the eruption, rendering them unreadable for centuries. However, recent advancements in imaging technology have allowed researchers to peer inside these ancient texts without opening them physically.

By utilizing 3D X-ray technology, scholars were able to digitally “unwrap” the charred papyrus and detect traces of ink, unveiling the author and title of the scroll. This breakthrough comes after years of research and developments by the Vesuvius Challenge, a global initiative aimed at decoding the hidden writings of Herculaneum’s library.

On Vices: The Work of Philodemus

The newly identified scroll contains part of On Vices, a philosophical work by Philodemus, a leading Epicurean philosopher of the first century BC. The scroll appears to be the first book in a multi-volume series that explores the ethical implications of vices such as greed, arrogance, and flattery. Researchers identified the work based on the presence of Greek letters and the word for “disgust,” suggesting the content relates to human flaws and behaviors.

Philodemus, an influential thinker who was closely associated with the Roman elite, wrote extensively on ethics, human nature, and the pursuit of happiness. His work On Vices spans at least 10 volumes and is considered an important contribution to the Epicurean school of thought, emphasizing how personal vices can impede a well-lived life.

A Milestone in Ancient Texts Research

The identification of this scroll is a monumental achievement in classical scholarship. It builds on the work of the Vesuvius Challenge, which gained international attention when a team of students used AI software to decipher 2,000 Greek letters from another scroll. In recognition of their contribution, the team was awarded a $700,000 prize in 2023. More recently, researchers Sean Johnson, Marcel Roth, and Micha Nowak from the University of Würzburg were awarded the “First Title Prize” for successfully identifying the title of Philodemus’ On Vices in PHerc. 172, receiving $60,000 for their efforts.

This discovery adds to a growing body of ancient texts that are being uncovered with the help of AI and imaging technology. As more scrolls are scanned, researchers are optimistic that additional lost works will soon come to light, reshaping our understanding of ancient philosophy.

The Future of Ancient Text Decoding

As of March 2025, 18 additional scrolls have been scanned, and 20 more are set to be analyzed in the coming weeks. These scans are being conducted at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, where researchers are continuing to refine their methods for transforming X-ray data into readable text. Despite the significant advances, researchers acknowledge that challenges remain in decoding the scans into coherent, legible text.

“We’re seeing ink in many scrolls, but we’re not yet extracting coherent words,” said Dr. Brent Seales, a computer scientist and co-founder of the Vesuvius Challenge. “The main bottleneck is converting scan data into flattened, enhanced text segments.”

However, scholars remain hopeful. The pace of progress in the last few years has been unprecedented, according to Dr. Michael McOsker, a papyrologist at University College London. “Everything we’re learning from the Herculaneum library is completely new. The pace in the last three to five years is astonishing by classical standards,” he said.

The Broader Impact of the Discovery

The discovery of Philodemus’ On Vices is more than just an academic milestone; it holds the potential to rewrite parts of ancient philosophy and literary history. By revealing works that were once thought lost to time, scholars are gaining new insights into the intellectual world of antiquity. Many of these works offer critical perspectives on human nature and ethics, themes that are still highly relevant today.

Philodemus’ writings, especially on topics like personal vices, greed, and arrogance, are an invaluable resource for understanding the ethical frameworks of ancient philosophers. With the continuing analysis of the Herculaneum library, the world is on the verge of rediscovering a wealth of lost knowledge that could offer fresh perspectives on age-old philosophical debates.

This breakthrough marks the beginning of a new era in the study of ancient texts. As researchers continue to employ cutting-edge technology to unearth the hidden knowledge of the past, there is hope that more lost works will be revealed. The Herculaneum scrolls, preserved by the volcanic eruption nearly two thousand years ago, are proving to be a treasure trove of forgotten history—one that could change the way we understand the classical world.