Members of the Vesuvius Challenge announced Monday that a series of ancient scrolls once burned during a volcanic eruption are now legible after almost 2,000 years.

The Vesuvius Challenge, launched in 2023, was no easy task. The members were tasked with solving an ancient problem regarding the Herculaneum Papyrus, a library of scrolls instantly burned by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. I have written Nat Friedman is one of them. project member. Friedman announced Monday that the project was a success and the winners were awarded $700,000 in prize money.

A photo shared by Friedman shows 15 pillars of a scroll believed to have been written by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus. Apparently he loved talking about music, food, and the joys of life. He also liked to throw shade at his opponents, who “have nothing to say about pleasure, either in general or in particular.”

This Philodemus guy would make a great columnist for the Daily Caller.

Ten months ago, we launched the Vesuvius Challenge to solve an ancient problem with the Herculaneum Papyrus, a scroll library that was rapidly burned by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Today, we are very happy to announce the success of this crazy project. Since 2000… pic.twitter.com/fihs9ADb48

— Nat Friedman (@natfriedman) February 5, 2024

Freedman said the 2024 goal is to read at least 90% of all four scrolls in the collection that have been scanned, as only 5% of each scroll has published text. . (Related: Inhabitants of once-lost Roman mansion may have witnessed thousands die in ancient catastrophe, researchers claim)

Italian farm workers discovered hundreds of scrolls in the collection, along with extensive frescoes and statues. according to Go to the Vesuvius Challenge website. Many were destroyed when first unveiled, but those that remain could shed light on a long-lost chapter of human history by the victors.