Part 2/11:
In the aftermath of Vesuvius’s eruption, much of Herculaneum remained buried, its ruins undiscovered until excavations began in the mid-18th century. Among the findings were what appeared at first to be charred lumps of coal but were soon identified as the remnants of papyrus scrolls. These scrolls hold the potential to provide insights into literature and philosophy from a time long lost, but their carbonization process, which fused the layers together, renders them incredibly fragile. Despite attempts to unroll the scrolls, most have crumbled to dust, thwarting scholars’ efforts to read their contents.