In a groundbreaking achievement, three students utilized artificial intelligence to decipher a 2,000-year-old scroll, burned during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
By Samir Tihhga
Meet the talented trio: Youssef Nader, a Berlin-based biorobotics graduate student from Egypt; Luke Farritor, a Nebraskan interning at SpaceX and college student; Julian Schilliger, a Zurich-based student studying robotics.
Participating in the Vesuvius Challenge, the students used machine learning algorithms to interpret the text on the burned scroll, unlocking its mysteries.
The deciphered scroll reveals a philosophical treatise attributed to the Greek philosopher Philodemus, shedding light on his thoughts about pleasure, senses, music, and food.
Experts hail this discovery as a revolution in Greek philosophy, potentially changing our understanding of the ancient world. The scroll is believed to have belonged to Julius Caesar's father-in-law.
Vesuvius Challenge Accomplishments
The students' success highlights the potential of AI to unravel ancient writings, marking a historic moment in the field of ancient studies.
This unique blend of cutting-edge technology and age-old wisdom not only unveils a long-lost piece of human knowledge but also sets the stage for future breakthroughs in deciphering ancient texts.