Latin Primers Deemed "Absolutely Essential" for Decoding Ancient Herculaneum Scrolls

New York, NY – A set of Latin and Russian primers, authored by Alex Jones and curated by physicist Casey Handmer, are being highlighted for their critical role in the ongoing Vesuvius Challenge, an international effort to digitally unroll and read ancient papyrus scrolls carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Handmer, a former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist and founder of Terraform Industries, emphasized the Latin primer's particular importance for deciphering the fragile Herculaneum texts.

"I regard his primers on Russian and Latin to be about the best thing I've ever read on those subjects. The Latin, in particular, is absolutely essential now we are decoding the scrolls (@scrollprize) so get started now, to sharpen yourself (@costofglory)," Handmer stated in a recent social media post.

The primers, available on Handmer's curated website livingbymywits.com, are described as concise guides developed by Alex Jones, who notably coached Handmer in several languages. The Latin primer specifically offers a 55-page grammar and a vocabulary list of 1,000 common words, aimed at facilitating fluency in reading the ancient language.

The Vesuvius Challenge, launched in 2023, utilizes advanced techniques such as X-ray tomography and artificial intelligence-driven ink detection to virtually reconstruct the hidden text within the charred scrolls. Recent breakthroughs have enabled researchers to read significant portions of a scroll, identifying it as a work by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus, titled On Vices. This success underscores the interdisciplinary nature of the project, merging cutting-edge technology with classical scholarship.

Casey Handmer himself played a role in the technical advancements of the Vesuvius Challenge, having contributed to the discovery of the "crackle pattern," a key element in the AI's ability to detect ink on the virtually unwrapped papyrus surfaces. The challenge continues to offer substantial prizes for further progress, with a goal to read entire scrolls and unlock a lost ancient library. The mention of "@costofglory," a group of classicists and historians, further highlights the collaborative and educational spirit surrounding this monumental archaeological endeavor.