Plato’s final hours recounted in scroll found in Vesuvius ash

The Guardian ^ | 04 28 2024 | Lorenzo Tondo

[yesthatjallen]

Newly deciphered passages from a papyrus scroll that was buried beneath layers of volcanic ash after the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius may have shed light on the final hours of Plato, a key figure in the history of western philosophy.

In a groundbreaking discovery, the ancient scroll was found to contain a previously unknown narrative detailing how the Greek philosopher spent his last evening, describing how he listened to music played on a flute by a Thracian slave girl.

Despite battling a fever and being on the brink of death, Plato – who was known as a disciple of Socrates and a mentor to Aristotle, and who died in Athens around 348BC – retained enough lucidity to critique the musician for her lack of rhythm, the account suggests.

SNIP

[GSWarrior]

Plato told the girl “your A is not A.”

[Beowulf9]

I knew it!

[Beowulf9]

Really I am impressed at this ability. I wonder what other fabulous things they might uncover at the Villa of the Papyri.

[mywholebodyisaweapon]

Maybe she was playing “I’m just a slave of a slave of a ...”

[SunkenCiv]

• Plato's final hours 'revealed': Ancient scroll buried by Mount Vesuvius claims the Greek philosopher spent his last night listening to music - and blasting the slave-girl flautist's 'lack of rhythm [04/29/2024]

[bitt]

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