Herculaneum Papyri

The Herculaneum Papyri are ancient scrolls discovered in the buried Roman town of Herculaneum, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. These scrolls were preserved in carbonized form by the volcanic heat. When uncovered in the 18th century, they provided valuable insights into classical thought, including philosophies and literary works, despite being difficult to read due to their damaged state. Scholars use advanced imaging techniques to study them, hoping to unlock lost texts from the ancient world, particularly works related to Epicurean philosophy and other cultural aspects of the time.