Newly decoded scroll solves mystery of Plato’s death

Now the Italian National Research Council reports that it has deciphered over 1,000 words (about 30 percent) of such a scroll. This includes the History of the Academywritten by Philodemus of Gadara about Plato’s school of philosophy, the Platonic Academy.

“Compared to previous editions, we now have an almost radically changed text, which contains a number of new and concrete facts about various academic philosophers,” says archaeologist Graziano Ranocchia, a professor at the University of Pisa, in a translated statement.

Historians generally knew that after his death in 348 BC, Plato was buried somewhere on the grounds of the Platonic Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. But the scroll reveals a more precise location: a private garden area of ​​the Academy, probably near the sanctuary of the Muses. The Roman general Sulla had the Academy razed to the ground in 86 BC.

Furthermore, scholars previously believed that Plato was sold into slavery in Sicily in 387 BC, but the scrolls state that this actually happened on the island of Aegina between 404 and 399 BC, either when the Spartans conquered the island or immediately after the death of Socrates.

And then there’s another surprising revelation. Historians always thought Plato spent his feverish last night peacefully listening to the music of a local slave. But the scrolls say he was actually irritated by the music and criticized the “barbaric” musician for her “poor sense of rhythm.”

In his statement, Ranocchia says that the newly deciphered scroll is the oldest history of Greek philosophy in our possession. He hopes to complete the decipherment of the scroll in 2026, according to The Independent.

By then, scholars may be unravelling more of Plato’s secrets. We know the basics: He was born into the Greek aristocracy sometime around 428 BC, which likely gave him some of the best teachers in Athens and set the stage for his encounter with his mentor Socrates. Plato was so impressed by Socrates’ methods of dialogue and debate that, according to biographythat he became a close confidant of hers and devoted his life to the question of virtue and the formation of a noble character.

We also know that Plato served briefly during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, a turbulent time. After Socrates’ death, Plato spent twelve years traveling the Mediterranean studying and writing. His works can be divided into three periods: teaching the philosophy of Socrates; exploring his own ideas on justice, courage, wisdom, and temperance; and examining the role of art, music, drama, architecture, ethics, and mortality.

And along the way, he founded his own school of learning, probably around 385 BC. While at Plato’s Academy, he taught his most famous student, Aristotle, who took his teachings in new directions. Plato served at the Academy until his death in his early 80s.

And although Plato suffered from a high fever on his last night on earth—and an apparently annoying soundtrack—there is still so much we don’t know about the legendary philosopher, including details about his daily life, relationships, and other works. But as archaeologists continue to decipher the scrolls, we may finally learn crucial missing information that solves part of the mystery.

Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, equipment, infrastructure and more for various publications, including Popular Mechanics. His favorite interviews include speaking with Roger Federer in Switzerland, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and Tinker Hatfield in Portland.