MOSCOW, 3 Apr. Scientists have discovered and partially deciphered a hidden manuscript written by the ancient astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, Newsweek writes.
A team of researchers from the Sorbonne and New York Universities have transcribed a text detailing the construction and use of an ancient astronomical observing instrument.
A medieval palimpsest, that is, a manuscript on parchment written on top of an existing one, with barely distinguishable Greek text, was discovered as early as 1819. According to the lead author of the study, Alexander Jones, at that time it was almost impossible to read the ancient manuscript, in addition, the chemical processing carried out at that time, designed to develop the text of Ptolemy, did not bring success and only aggravated the situation.
Thus Thus, for centuries the contents of the parchment remained a mystery. “Before that, only a few words could be read, and this was not enough to be able to say more than what this (description. — Approx. ed.) of something astronomical,” Jones said.
The scientists began a detailed analysis of the manuscript in 2020. Thanks to multispectral imaging techniques, experts were able to read the description of an astronomical instrument called a «meteoroscope». It is mentioned in several ancient texts, including Ptolemy's book on mapping Geography, but details of its design remain unknown.
The hidden manuscript, according to experts, was written in two parts. The first of them gives a detailed description of how and from what the indicated tool should be made, the second part is devoted to how to use it.
all the technical specifications necessary for the manufacture of the tool,» the author of the study said.
The parchment on which the manuscript was written was found in the library of the Abbey of Bobbio in Italy and is now stored in Milan. The palimpsest contains the Latin text of Archbishop Isidore of Seville's «Etymology», presumably written in the 8th century.
Despite significant progress, the project is not yet complete, as even new technologies do not fully decipher the contents of some pages of the manuscript, Jones concluded.