Slashdot Mirror
Breakthrough Decodes 'Classical Holy Grail'
wka writes "Scientists at Oxford University have made a major breakthrough in their study of a large collection of Greek and Roman writings. Many of the documents known as the 'Oxyrhynchus Papyri' (found at 'ancient rubbish dump in central Egypt') are 'meaningless to the naked eye - decayed, worm-eaten and blackened by the passage of time.' Using an infrared technique originally developed for use with satellite imaging, scientists are able to view the original writing, which 'could lead to a 20 per cent increase in the number of great Greek and Roman works in existence'. Thus far, works by Sophocles, Lucian, Euripides, Hesiod and others have been (re-)discovered. Additionally, scientists think they 'are likely to find lost Christian gospels.' (via The Light of Reason)"
Dan Brown just had his next idea for a book...
'could lead to a 20 per cent increase in the number of great Greek and Roman works in existence'
Well no, but it could certainly increase the number of them that we can read.
Additionally, scientists think they 'are likely to find lost Christian gospels.'
What's the betting that the one that reads "'The Bible' copyright 134AD, Any resemblance to people past or present is purely coincidental" is quickly covered up?
..can it decipher doctors' handwriting on prescription pads? That would be a momentous scientific advance!
Thanks to the War on Drugs, it's easier to buy meth than it is to buy cold medicine!
Euripides papyri you pay for 'em.
"Thou shalth not be so goddamned hysterical about every 'life' issue".
> ...Lost Gospels...
Finally they can decode In The John 3:16: "An_ _e_us we_t dow_ on t_e me_ty co_k _hrou_h t_e gl_ry _ole."
Hopefully it won't upset too much in religion.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
How much are we betting that the scientists got their ideas by watching CSI?
liqbase
But I've discovered it's really an ancient Linux (kernel 0.2.1), where all console output is put on paper. What did they find important enough to try and save? Apparently the following command, entered over and over:
$ fortune
The Peanut Gallery, Ubergeek, Biblically Sober
NCAAbbs.com: Thousands of fans, Hundreds of teams, Just one place
I hope these works are not going to be reprinted without fully compensating the original authors, and their descendants.
I'll probably be modded down for this...
Until it's capable of decoding Ogg Vorbis, I'm not buying it.
'Classical Holy Grail'
... for God's sake let them drink using the wooden cup and not the golden. I tell you, I've seen it happen before, I know.
It makes me wonder why the Church is under such attack these days. Personally, I feel that the end times are near, the Father of Lies knows it and is doing everything to harm the Church.
>Think of a 50 foot tall cross walking out of Jesus tomb, shouting imprecations upon Jerusalem.
Yeah, because that's just sooo much more fantastic than floating axes and talking bushes.
Belief is the currency of delusion.
It's doubtful. The technology of the Roman empire was superior to that of the Dark Ages. I think it's safe to say that our current advancement has surpassed anything known to the Romans. We even have concrete and a loathing of all things Christian.
Infidel!
Plato was an Emacs user!
<dons asbestos boxers>
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
Turns out that this was merely a grail-shaped beacon at the Egyptian rubbish dump.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
He had has wife, did you know what her name is?
Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
again
That's right after the 11th commandment:
Thou shalt not pay too much for a muffler.
I don't get it.
-- Gospel of Terry
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
"And Saint Atila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, 'Oh, Lord, bless this thy hand grenade that with it thou mayest blow thy enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.' And the Lord did grin, and people did feast upon the lambs, and sloths, and carp, and anchovies, and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats, and large.."