#italy '85

[vintageurovision]

Magic, Oh Magic, Al Bano & Romina Power | Italy, Eurovision Song Contest 1984

[ijungberg]

Paolo Maldini playing for AC Milan aged 17 (1986.)

[jediwizard]

yall I just finished a really hard history test. she said that there will be only a few questions about the triangular trade and the exploration. but there were like 7 questions and I don't think I studied enough😭

although, I think I wrote a pretty good essay on the Italian Renaissance and the Medici's

edit: i got 74 you guys?!?! FUCKING 74 IM GOING TO KMS

[assiraphales]

anyways (I say this as someone who is deeply critical of the united states government, military, unchecked capitalism, police, etc) I am SICK of people treating america as if it has no cultural value or positives so..... I love u 85 million acres (bigger than italy) of national parks. I love u harlem renaissance. I love u groundhogs day. I love u sweet tea and fried chicken and jambalaya. I love u apple cider donuts and maizes on crisp autumn days. I love u 95k miles of coastlines and new england fisherman and hand knitted sweaters. I love u halloween where millions of people dress up and give candy to strangers and carve jack o’lanterns. I love u small talk and small towns and potlucks and bringing over casseroles to your struggling neighbors. I love u cowboys and ranch hands and arizonian cactus. I love u appalachian trail and dirtbikes and divebars. I love u sparklers and fireflies. I love u mark twain and toni morrison and emily dickinson and henry david thoreau. I love u rock n roll i love u bluegrass and hippies i love u jimi hendrix and nirvana and CCR and janis joplin. I love u victorian houses and jonny appleseed and john henry and mothman and bigfoot. I love u foggy days in the pacific northwest and neon signs and roadside attractions. I love u baseball and 1950s diners and soft serve. I love u native american art and pop art and poptarts. I love u blue jeans and barbecues and jazz musicians 

[aplicativopankmobilidadeidn]

[theodoreangelos]

Smokey blue Jimmy Choo Romy 85 leather pumps A classic silhouette in smooth leather, Jimmy Choo's Romy 85 mm (3.35") smokey blue pumps prove to be an alluring all-rounder. They're shaped with a pointed toe and thin mid-heel, while a leather insole ensures utmost comfort. Jimmy Choo Romy 85

[blueiscoool]

Rome’s Ancient Arch of Constantine Struck by Lightening

During a storm on September 3, lightning struck Rome’s Arch of Constantine, chipping the structure’s marble surface. The 1,700-year-old arch and its neighbor, the Colosseum, were two of several sites affected by the thunderstorm, which produced 2.36 inches of rain in less than an hour. Usually, the city sees a similar amount over the entire month of September.

“A lightning strike hit the arch right here and then hit the corner,” a tourist at the site told Reuters’ Alberto Lingria. “We saw this fly off,” the tourist added while pointing to a fallen block of stone.

Finished in 315 C.E., the Arch of Constantine is one of Rome’s three surviving ancient triumphal arches, each erected to honor a person or event. This arch commemorates Constantine I’s 312 victory over the emperor Maxentius. That same year, Constantine devoted himself to Christianity—the first Roman ruler to do so.

The fierce storm also felled two large trees near the Circus Maximus, flooded the Trevi Fountain and flooded the Colosseum’s subterranean tunnels, reports CNN. After lightning struck the arch, staff of the Colosseum Archaeological Park quickly gathered its dislodged pieces and placed them in a secure location, according to a statement from Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

In the days that followed, some tourists stumbled upon additional pieces on the ground.

��​“My American group found these fragments, and we’re handing them over to the workmen,” tour guide Serena Giuliani told the London Times’ Tom Kington on the morning of September 4.

Specialists are now examining the condition of the fragments. Officials say the damage was limited to the monument’s southern side, where unrelated restoration work had started just days earlier, allowing for quick repairs.

At roughly 70 feet tall and 85 feet wide, the Arch of Constantine contains three separate arches, each framed by columns. The intricately decorated structure is adorned with recycled fragments, or spolia, taken from other ancient buildings, including monuments honoring Trajan, Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius.

The arch is also decorated with carvings of Constantine, including a series of reliefs depicting his victorious fight against Maxentius in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

In 306, Constantine was leading Roman troops in Britain—then part of the Roman Empire—when his military declared him their emperor. His brother-in-law, Maxentius, also declared himself the emperor around the same time. After years of complex power struggles, the two rulers ultimately faced off in 312 at Rome’s Milvian Bridge, which overlooks the river Tiber. Panels on the Arch of Constantine depict the battle’s conclusion, showing Maxentius’ troops drowning in the river.

The arch’s recent encounter with lightning may have carried spiritual significance for its ancient builders, as “the bolts were believed to be the work of the gods,” per the Times. These spots were sacred for the Romans, who sometimes erected temples at such sites.

By Sonja Anderson.

[crystallilytarot]

Choose a random item! Fanfiction trope with your partner

1- ship

It's written Capri on the ship, so maybe Italy is an important place for you or your partner, or maybe you or them are from an island, or you will go there together.

So, it feels like friends to lovers. But like a superhero movie :) You will have some difficulties in your life and your partner will help you or even save you, stand up for you. I feel after this, you will be friends first, so it's not a fast moving relationship. You go to the same school or you work together, or maybe you move to another place, and they will help you with your baggeges or show you the city. They can be someone that you already know, but you were never been more than friends until now. There will be some people who will try to sabotage your relationship, but don't listen to their lies! In the end you will be together and it will be a very loving, nurturing and romantic connection. Honestly, you are cute together.

Significant numbers maybe : 1, 5, 7, 8, 18, 85.

2-merry-go-round

Strangers to lovers definitely! It's a faded connection, you are literally meant to be together. I feel some fun times here, a trip, amusement park, garden, flowers, maybe a costume party. You will have fun that day, and you will have fun together too, it's like love at first sight. It can be a birthday or a celebration too. For some of you, you will spend the night together that day wink wink :) But after that you or them will feel regretful, I think maybe both of you, because you will think that the other person don't want anything else, but it's not the case at all! Another scenario is that you will be in separation for a while, but not because a breakup, these person live somewhere else. And they don't contact you right away after they go back home, so you will think it was just a fun night for them. You two will have a long distance relationship for a while, but one of you will move to the other person's place, and after that you will be inseparable. :) I see a lot of cuddling, pillow talk.

Important numbers maybe : 2, 4, 9, 10, 29, 94, 99.

3-cherry blossom candle

Spring may be important for you or some of you are from Japan or Japan is an important place for you.

Ngl it feels like a sugar daddy / sugar mommy and sugar baby relationship :) Even if it's not, they will be very supportive and caring towards you. It can be someone from your workplace, maybe your boss. I feel like your job doesn't pay well enough, but you will have a better opportunity and you will meet them there. Or you will have 2 people who wants to be with you, and you will have to choose. It probably will take some time for you to think about this and choose. I don't think that you will choose the money, there are emotions here. And it's not about the money, but this person will treat you right, and you deserve it! If you want to have children, you will have a family with this person, or pets, most likely dogs, but can be other types of pets too. I see a garden and a very comfortable, cozy home. You will take care of each other, both of you will nurture this relationship, but still, I feel like them will treat you like a queen/king. It's not just financial support, but emotional too. You will move to their house or it can be like you will left your past behind. It feels like after all the hardships you will have your rewards from the Universe!

Important numbers maybe : 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 19, 21, 66.

[melhindips]

Day 362

🟡 Hezbollah forces repel 2 IOF ground incursion attempts. Hezbollah says it killed & injured 80 IOF soldiers; Israel says only 8 killed, 30 injured. ~5 IOF tanks reportedly destroyed

🇵🇸 90 Palestinians killed in Gaza in 24 hrs

‼️ IOF massacres 53+ people incl. 19 from 1 family, in hours-long ground incursion backed by artillery fire in Khan Younis (south)

‼️ IOF bombs orphanage in Rimal neighborhood + school in Tuffah district + residential buildings in Gaza City (north), massacring 25+

‼️ Gaza Civil Defense: Gaza Genocide has erased 902 families from registry. 1,374 families have only 1 survivor

🇯🇴 Jordan officials to CNN: Jordan intercepted Iran missiles. Israeli official says “other Middle Eastern countries” also helped

🇺🇳 Israel bans UN Secretary-General from entry for “insufficient condemnation” of Iran

🇱🇧 46 killed, 85 injured in Lebanon in 24 hrs

🚀 Hezbollah fires 240+ rockets, sparking fires in Israeli colonies

🇱🇧 IOF attack kills 5, injures 8 in west Beirut. 3 other airstrikes on Beirut leveled buildings

🇱🇧 Israel threatens 19 new towns in south Lebanon to fully evacuate

🇵🇸 Central Gaza: IOF attacked tents & evacuation centers, killing 23 people

🇸🇾 3 people killed, 3 injured in IOF attack on Damascus, Syria

🇬🇧 UK says its fighter jets played role in “wider deterrence” of Iran attack

🇺🇸 Biden discusses Israeli attack on Iran w/ Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan & UK

❌ Israel imposes new curfew on Hebron (West Bank), abducting & abusing several men

[headingalaxys-spicy]

Thinking of Ludwig slowly becoming a yandere after being in a relationship with his s/o for years and s/o just accepts it because they love him so much. They take every punishment he gives, and feel torn between wanting to escape but they love him too much to leave. They’re timid around him and he takes advantage of that, teasing them for his own pleasure- that’s what I’m thinking about 😅

Hello there you beautiful human. Thanks for waiting in purgatory for your ask to be answered. I hope it satisfies you ✨

Gonna put the warning here : Totally touches on things like toxic relationships that are abusive so if that’s triggering for you then yeaaaah skip this one.

How you first encountered Ludwig: 

You were having a blast at a small German town's annual summer festival. You’d gotten separated from your friend group as you spotted some fancy Deutsch wine crafted by a family doing it for over 200 years. You hadn’t realized that you were pretty drunk when you’d bumped into the German General & spilled your cherry red wine all over him as you took a tumble to the ground. 

“Oh Sheibe! Es tut mir leid! Ich kann diesen Kleidung sauber helfen.” Panicked, you pulled out many napkins and water bottles to assist him with removing the stain. Ludwig may have been annoyed but became relaxed & spellbound by your beautiful face, perfectly framed by your freshly trimmed hair. 

‘Humph. Well, at least they’re remorseful.’ 

“Es ist okay. I have dry cleaners I can drop this uniform off at and more to wear, but…” Ludwig reached into his back pocket to pull out his business card. 

“If you’re around in Berlin & want to get the best Wurst in all of Germany, call or text me. Ciao” 

[He learned his rizz from Italy.] 

The first date was a smooth yet fantastical affair. The two of you dawdled through the sprawling city of Berlin. From the Brandenburg gate to the TV tower, & down to the River Spree. You got to be fully immersed in the capital city of Deutschland by none other than its resolute representative, Ludwig Belischmidt. 

You were dazzled by all the history he knew of, down to tiny details you knew couldn’t be found in a surface-level history textbook. Your admiration of him, combined with your cute face & intellect, make it much easier for Ludwig to catch feelings. 

As the two of you moved past the honeymoon phase and into the waves of a long-term relationship, you began to notice subtle changes in Ludwig. 

He wouldn’t complement or encourage you as much. Instead, his adoration would be criticism or telling you whatever you accomplished wasn’t good enough / didn’t meet his skyscraper-high standards. This breaks down your self-esteem, so you’ll doubt yourself more. Ludwig will want you always to be pining for his approval. 

When you do something that significantly displeases him, he will have you do something that will physically break you down. Ludwig is like a loving but stringent drill sergeant. Here is a short list of things you’ll have to do in order to get back into his good graces: 

50 Push-Ups 

100 Jumping Jacks 

Hold the ‘T’ pose for 30 minutes to an hour 

Planks 

5 to 15-mile runs (depending on how Sadistic he’s feeling, if someone tried to get close to you, and your level of non-compliance will depend on how long you’ll have to run for) 

These are all things that will exhaust you and prevent you from wanting to talk back, argue with him, etc. This rigorous training also mitigates 80%-85% of your free time to socialize with others. 

Ludwig does his best to avoid putting his hands on you because you’re a human. You’re incredibly fragile. You weren’t meant to withstand him at his maximum strength. However, when you cross him, he has a leather belt to put you back in your place. For the most part, it's not something he takes great pride in, but he needs to keep you under control. He’s realized over the years that once you’ve become emotionally attached to him, he could get away with more & more problematic behavior. All he had to do was hit you with the line: “Es tut mir leid, Liebling. I had to. It was for your own good. I’ll make it up to you.” Ludwig will give you a chastised kiss on the forehead. This gesture never failed to make you turn bright red and send butterflies pouring through your guts. Your heart would sprint due to feeling the adrenaline that comes from being in love. However, your nerves would be feeling a dry stick rubbing against them gaining friction that produced a thick smoke. 

Your typical response to his apology would be followed up by a brief: 

“Kein problem. I forgive you, Ludwig.” 

Even though Ludwigs' smile touched your skin like an early morning Fall sunray heating up your chilly skin, the glaring truth about him and his progressively toxic tendencies became far more difficult to ignore as time continued. 

You evaded his gaze this time when you accepted his apology. You wondered how many times he’s said that to you now. 

‘But all relationships are like this. I shouldn’t have upset him in the first place.’ This was one of the many rationalizations that you told yourself. 

You often wondered how many more times you’d hear him say “sorry” when you cried out for him to “stop” or say “Ludwig, please! It was just a mistake!!!” As more lashes came swinging through the air & made the all too familiar crack against your soft skin. It never failed to vivid crimson 4-inch whiplash there. 

‘Is my relationship with Ludwig actually normal, though?’ Came the uncomfortable question that came to your mind every now & again. It normally materialized after you’d faced another grueling punishment of military-style exercise, a lashing, being denied access to friends, fun, and family, a disagreement, etc. You longed not to have to walk in a minefield of broken glass, eggshells, & razors when navigating conversations with him. 

“Y/N?” Ludwig says sternly with a touch of concern. Your lack of eye contact with him when accepting his apology was a subtle signal to him that he had to go all out when he planned your latest couples' make-up trip. It had to be something spectacular. 

“Yes?” You say in an exhausted tone that was weighed down by the conflict between your heart and your head. You continued to stare at the concrete of the garage. 

“Where do you want to go for dinner?” 

Ludwig would ignore your gradually growing frigid demeanor since you’d been together for such a long time. 

‘It’s just a rough patch. They’ll get over their hesitations soon enough. A well-planned and thought-out day always wins Y/N back.’ 

This is what Ludwig tells himself in order to keep up the delusion that he’s doing nothing wrong and that your relationship is normal. It’s always been this way. 

Why would it be any different now? 

A vacation was the only thing Ludwig needed to get the two of you back on track. 

Usually, Ludwig relished in silence, but not when you refrained to talking to him at all. You would at least give a few compliments about something or try to start a conversation. Only having spoken the basic pleasantries of “Guten Morgen” or “Guten Nacht” with no attempt at speaking more did make him feel uneasy. But not enough to make him rethink where he was going next. 

“Y/N, while planning our trip, I thought we could do something far more exciting.” You stopped staring at your food to move your eyes up to meet his. “We’re going to climb up Watzmann.” Ludwig knew damn well you hated heights. 

“And …..why, for the love of God, would you think I’d enjoy that?” Not being able to hold back your disbelief and irritation. 

“Well, all that training you’ve done. It’s time to test your mettle Y/N! You can’t let all of my hard work go to waste!” Utterly oblivious to the fuse he’s just ignited. 

The tense and uncomfortable silence choked any peace out of the atmosphere. It stayed that way for 90 seconds as the sparks set off the bomb. Its flames made its way through your veins. 

This was not what real love looked like. You pushed your plate away & slammed your fork and knife onto it. Your reaction hit Ludwig like a lightning bolt. 

“I'm seriously done with you, Ludwig!” 

With that, you went back to your hotel room in a huff. Some people stared silently at Ludwig, and others watched you march away. 

You never turned back. 

[gemsofgreece]

Hello! I apologize if this is bad timing, but is there any way a foreigner can help with the wildfires? Maybe there are charities or organizations handling current fires that could use donations or something of the kind?

Thank you, and you don't have to respond! I only approached you because you seem knowledgeable, you don't have to do the educational work :)

Thank you so much for considering donating / supporting those affected by the fires. For the time being, I wasn’t able to find any open charities addressed to foreign people. I will keep looking just in case. If any Greek here knows any valid organisation accepting donations for the wildfires from abroad, please tell us.

If you ask me, honestly the best thing you can do right now is that should it ever come up to a conversation or a post or anything, just spread the awareness that this problem has got so monstrous dimensions across the country due to human mistakes and mass arsons, a lot of which are suspected to have questionable motives (I mean, beyond the standard motive of being an evil person lighting a fire just for the sake of it). It is crucial to spread this awareness because most people outside of Greece and the Mediterranean believe this is exclusively due to climate change and that Greece now has totally unnatural temperatures that cause these fires. This is not the case. Climate change is a factor for sure but wildfires have been happening since at least the sixties anyway. Nevertheless, 90% of the tragedies in the last 10 - 20 years are due to human neglect or criminal activity and not the climate crisis and this criminal activity grows exponentially every year while the government either is not able or not willing to confront, let alone solve the problem. So, again, if you want to offer in some way, spread this knowledge if ever given the chance. Knowing the true problem, exposing it beyond the borders, is what can mayhaps put pressure on the authorities, because for the time being they are hiding behind the convenience of the climate crisis and they are like “boohoo there’s nothing we can do, nobody can defeat the pLaNet’s WRatH”. Remember, the extensive, uncontrolled arson only exacerbates and accelerates rapidly the effects of the climate change. But they try their best to gloss over this except for the times the arsonists are caught in the act, when they have no excuses. There are already studies showing that Greece’s climate is fast morphing to an Egyptian / North African climate due to the hundreds of thousands of hectares burned annually. Athens has lost more than one third of its forests in the last 7 years. The second largest island of the country, Euboea, lost 85% of its uniquely beautiful forests three years ago and it keeps being set on fire still. Last year a 1% of the freaking entirety of the country was burned. A fire has been burning a forested mountain in the north for 29 days nonstop and nobody bothered to try to put it out until it poured rain on it a few days ago.

I can’t speak for other countries but I believe part of the wildfire problem at least in Albania, Turkey, maybe less so even in Italy and Portugal and other countries are due to questionable motives associated with privatisation of environmentally protected land and investment. This is happening outside of the Mediterranean too. I believe this to be a problem extending way beyond Greece, however I think Greece is among if not the most notorious for these wildfire causations in Europe.

[livefromtheyard]

If you know it. Top 5 yard episodes

these aren't in any particular order because i've decided i don't believe in numbers but

ep 85, we ranked every guy in the world

ep 105, pontins

episodes 76-89 were kind of an all-time streak for me, but i especially love 77, 80, and 86

ep 142 with fuslie just might be their best guest episode

and like. 32 with miles is an obvious choice. kind of in love with ep 54 though from when they went to australia and they were being so fucking annoying. and the italy episode omg

best premos are the milkshake one, that aiden and slime power hour from before they went to japan, the ludwig and nick power hour, the one where they're in the japanese hotel, and maybe the one where they talk about the titanic and slime killing a bug for zipper 2. premos are harder for me to remember though

[eddy25960]

“Narcissus”, Date Unknown, Silkscreen Print, Edition of 50, Sheet Size 90 x 85 cm, Private Collection. ~ Corrado Cagli (1910-1976).

CORRADO CAGLI was an Italian painter of Jewish heritage. Born in the city of Ancona in February of 1910.

Cagli was a member of the Scuola Romana, an art movement of Expressionist painters in Rome who were active between 1928 and 1945.

With the enactment of the Racial Laws, Cagli was forced into exile, first to Paris, a place he had visited as a young star painter from Italy, and then to the United States, where he later became a citizen.

After the war, Cagli returned in 1948 to Rome and made it his permanent residence.

Corrado Cagli died in Rome in 1976.

(Publicación de Don Bryson)

[olympeline]

Now my Hetalia passion has flared up again to early 2010s levels I’m feeling the itch to get back into writing fanfiction…which I really shouldn’t because I’m so bad at finishing things unless they’re one-shots 😂

EITHER WAY I’ve got an idea for a FrUK fic where Arthur’s magic gets so fed up with his centuries of endless tsundere posturing that it rebels against him and starts showering Francis with embarrassing affection. Because magically powerful but inept wizard Arthur is always fun and “character A is in denial about their love for character B, but it comes out through their magic anyway” is a trope I LOVE

It starts small. Arthur tries to hand Francis a pen and it poofs into a red rose when it touches Francis’s fingers. Arthur is flustered but manages to brush it off (Arthur’s Death By Mortification level: 5%)

After a brief scuffle over who gets the last chair with padding (“HAHA SUCK IT, ASSTOWN FRENCHY!!” - the former nation of Prussia) Francis tears his favorite silk shirt. He bemoans it to Arthur…only to find it’s suddenly fixed itself. Arthur denies all responsibility and says France just made a mistake as usual. France is adamant he didn’t (Arthur’s DBM level: 15%)

Francis, already one of the world’s prime gourmets, invites the G7 to dinner and his cooking jumps up another notch to stratosphere levels after Arthur takes his first bite. Everyone notices (Arthur’s DBM level: 30%)

Whenever Arthur visits France the country is blessed by mild winters, springs that would stun a poet, glorious summers, and radiant autumns. Meteorologists are baffled but no one is complaining! Except Arthur. The UK meanwhile suffers constant dark, glowering skies and sulky storms (Arthur’s DBM level: 50%)

Francis and Arthur stroll through the French countryside, Francis points out a historical excavation sight, and oh look what do you know: they just happen to pull out some ancient treasure that will be a crown jewel of the Lourve. Francis ecstatic (perhaps it was even something he lost centuries ago). Arthur quickly excuses himself and runs home (Arthur’s DBM level: 70%)

Pre-meeting, Arthur overhears Francis sighing that the Italy brothers are a shoe-in to take the world prize for best cheese this year (because that’s a real contest that France and Italy have an annual slap fight over) since the French cheese makers have had a bad year. Only oh no they actually haven’t! Seems there was a late entry that blew the judges socks off and gets France another gold. Francis is ecstatic again…and getting a little suspicious by this point. Arthur hides in a closet and wishes nations could know the sweet release of death (Arthur’s DBM level: 85%)

Francis brings up the Olympics at a World Conference and Romano, still sore over the cheese, loudly remarks that of course France will top the medal board with England “helping” so much with his “fucking Harry Potter wizard BS.” Suddenly all eyes on Arthur, France included. Kill him. Kill him now (Arthur’s DBM level: about 5 million)

Arthur when he gets home: STOP FUCKING DOING THESE THINGS FUCK YOU

Arthur’s magic: Nah fuck you, man *Flips him off twice and gives Paris another tourism boost*

[travelling-my-little-pony]

Masquerade is looking around Venice (and the surrounding islands).

In Italy.

Masquerade is admiring the Basilica San Marco.

This is photo number 85 of 366.

[deargodsno]

Two thousand years ago, a volcanic eruption buried an ancient library of papyrus scrolls now known as the Herculaneum Papyri. In the 18th century the scrolls were discovered. More than 800 of them are now stored in a library in Naples, Italy; these lumps of carbonized ash cannot be opened without severely damaging them. But how can we read them if they remain rolled up? On March 15th, 2023, Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Brent Seales launched the Vesuvius Challenge to answer this question. Scrolls from the Institut de France were imaged at the Diamond Light Source particle accelerator near Oxford. We released these high-resolution CT scans of the scrolls, and we offered more than $1M in prizes, put forward by many generous donors. A global community of competitors and collaborators assembled to crack the problem with computer vision, machine learning, and hard work. Less than a year later, in December 2023, they succeeded. Finally, after 275 years, we can begin to read the scrolls. Grand Prize​ There was one submission that stood out clearly from the rest. Working independently, each member of our team of papyrologists recovered more text from this submission than any other. Remarkably, the entry achieved the criteria we set when announcing the Vesuvius Challenge in March: 4 passages of 140 characters each, with at least 85% of characters recoverable. This was not a given: most of us on the organizing team assigned a less than 30% probability of success when we announced these criteria! And in addition, the submission includes another 11 (!) columns of text — more than 2000 characters total. The results of this review were clear and unanimous: the Vesuvius Challenge Grand Prize of $700,000 is awarded to a team of three for their excellent submission. Congratulations to Youssef Nader, Luke Farritor, and Julian Schilliger! Runners up​ Of the remaining submissions, the scores from our team of papyrologists identify a three-way tie for runner up. These entries show remarkably similar readability to each other, but still stand out from the rest by being significantly more readable. Congratulations to the following teams, each taking home $50,000! Shao-Qian Mah. GitHub Elian Rafael Dal Prá, Sean Johnson, Leonardo Scabini, Raí Fernando Dal Prá, João Vitor Brentigani Torezan, Daniel Baldin Franceschini, Bruno Pereira Kellm, Marcelo Soccol Gris, and Odemir Martinez Bruno. GitHub Louis Schlessinger and Arefeh Sherafati. GitHub

What does the scroll say?​ To date, our efforts have managed to unroll and read about 5% of the first scroll. Our eminent team of papyrologists has been hard at work and has achieved a preliminary transcription of all the revealed columns. We now know that this scroll is not a duplicate of an existing work; it contains never-before-seen text from antiquity. The papyrology team are preparing to deliver a comprehensive study as soon as they can. You all gave them a lot of work to do! Initial readings already provide glimpses into this philosophical text. From our scholars: The general subject of the text is pleasure, which, properly understood, is the highest good in Epicurean philosophy. In these two snippets from two consecutive columns of the scroll, the author is concerned with whether and how the availability of goods, such as food, can affect the pleasure which they provide. Do things that are available in lesser quantities afford more pleasure than those available in abundance? Our author thinks not: “as too in the case of food, we do not right away believe things that are scarce to be absolutely more pleasant than those which are abundant.” However, is it easier for us naturally to do without things that are plentiful? “Such questions will be considered frequently.” Since this is the end of a scroll, this phrasing may suggest that more is coming in subsequent books of the same work. At the beginning of the first text, a certain Xenophantos is mentioned, perhaps the same man — presumably a musician — also mentioned by Philodemus in his work On Music. Richard Janko writes: “Is the author Epicurus' follower, the philosopher and poet Philodemus, the teacher of Vergil? It seems very likely. Is he writing about the effect of music on the hearer, and comparing it to other pleasures like those of food and drink? Quite probably. Does this text come from his four-part treatise on music, of which we know Book 4? Quite possibly: the title should soon become available to read. Is the Xenophantus who is mentioned the celebrated flute-player, or the man famous in antiquity for being unable to control his laughter, or someone else entirely? So many questions! But improvements to the identification of the ink, which can be expected, will soon answer most of them. I can hardly wait.” Scholars might call it a philosophical treatise. But it seems familiar to us, and we can’t escape the feeling that the first text we’ve uncovered is a 2000-year-old blog post about how to enjoy life. Is Philodemus throwing shade at the stoics in his closing paragraph, asserting that stoicism is an incomplete philosophy because it has “nothing to say about pleasure?” The questions he seems to discuss — life’s pleasures and what makes life worth living — are still on our minds today. We can expect many more works from Philodemus in the current collection, once we’re able to scale up this technique. But there could be other text as well — an Aristotle dialog, a lost history of Livy, a lost Homeric epic work, a poem from Sappho — who knows what treasures are hidden in these lumps of ash.