Plato’s burial place found thanks to the Herculaneum papyri

Athens, 23 April 2024 – An incredible discovery has emerged from the Herculaneum papyri: the exact location of Plato’s burial in the Academy of Athens. This was revealed by papyrologist Graziano Ranocchia of the University of Pisa, who presented the medium-term results of the “GreekSchools” research project conducted with the National Research Council at the National Library of Naples.

Thanks to the rereading of part of the papyrus containing the History of the Academy of Philodemus of Gadara, Ranocchia identified a passage that mentions Plato’s tomb located inside the garden reserved for him, a private area intended for the Platonic school. The tomb would be located near the so-called Museion, a sacred chapel dedicated to the Muses.

“This is a sensational discovery that reopens a fundamental chapter in the history of Western philosophy and culture,” said Ranocchia. “For the first time, after centuries of uncertainty, we know precisely where Plato, one of the greatest thinkers of all time, was buried.”

The discovery was welcomed with enthusiasm by the international scientific community. “This is a truly extraordinary result,” commented Professor Marcello Mastroianni, professor of Ancient Philosophy at the University of Oxford. “This discovery offers us valuable new information about Plato’s life and death, and helps us better reconstruct the history of the Academy of Athens.”

Research into Plato’s burial site will continue in the coming months. Researchers hope to be able to locate the Greek philosopher’s tomb and study his remains.

The discovery of Plato’s burial place represents an important step forward in knowledge of the ancient world. It allows us to delve deeper into the life and thought of one of the greatest philosophers in history, and to better understand the historical and cultural context in which he worked.

Furthermore, this discovery has great symbolic value. It demonstrates once again the immense cultural heritage that lies buried under the ashes of Vesuvius. The Herculaneum papyri continue to reveal priceless treasures that allow us to reconstruct the life and civilization of the ancient world.