# Is the 2011 transcription of the Archimedes text reliable? · Archimedes Palimpsest > Three answers have been proposed. The Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4BP1E80/is-the-2011-transcription-of-the-archimedes-text-reliable Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:52+00:00 --- **0** # Is the 2011 transcription of the Archimedes text reliable? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Did the imaging programme recover the erased Archimedes text wherever the parchment survives?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N43W11MX/did-the-imaging-programme-recover-the-erased-archimedes-text)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters A recovered image is only as useful as its reading. A specialist review found errors in the edition's treatment of abbreviations and diagrams⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MX1A5S21/review-of-the-archimedes-palimpsest-ed-netz-noel-tchernetska). ## Answers 3 [**The Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/answers/ANS0CT7N71M2EN6/the-netz-and-wilson-transcription-is-reliable-apart-from) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**The transcription contains errors in abbreviations, diacritics and diagrams that need correcting before it…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/answers/ANS0CT7N7H85H4T/the-transcription-contains-errors-in-abbreviations) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/answers/ANS0CT7N80W3CDV/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2013[Netz puts forward: the Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MX941WJ9/a-response-to-acerbi-on-netz-noel-tchernetska-and-wilson-edd) 1. 2013[Acerbi puts forward: the transcription contains errors in abbreviations, diacritics and diagrams that need correcting before it…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MX1A5S21/review-of-the-archimedes-palimpsest-ed-netz-noel-tchernetska) 1. 2013[Netz: the editors replied to the review in the same journal.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MX941WJ9/a-response-to-acerbi-on-netz-noel-tchernetska-and-wilson-edd)For: The Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation. 1. 2013[Acerbi: the reviewer identifies specific misreadings of abbreviations and a misleading treatment of the diagram for…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT7MX1A5S21/review-of-the-archimedes-palimpsest-ed-netz-noel-tchernetska)For: The transcription contains errors in abbreviations, diacritics and diagrams that need correcting before it… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4BP1E80/is-the-2011-transcription-of-the-archimedes-text-reliable%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4BP1E80/is-the-2011-transcription-of-the-archimedes-text-reliable%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4BP1E80/is-the-2011-transcription-of-the-archimedes-text-reliable%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4BP1E80/is-the-2011-transcription-of-the-archimedes-text-reliable%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4BP1E80/is-the-2011-transcription-of-the-archimedes-text-reliable%23add-source) Where it fits Archimedes Palimpsest [**Did the imaging programme recover the erased Archimedes text wherever the parchment survives?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N43W11MX/did-the-imaging-programme-recover-the-erased-archimedes-text)Key question · Multispectral imaging and X-ray fluorescence together recovered the Archimedes undertext on every surviving… **Is the 2011 transcription of the Archimedes text reliable?** You're here · the Netz and Wilson transcription is reliable apart from minor points of notation [What did the recovered text change about Archimedes' mathematics?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4KG76TA/what-did-the-recovered-text-change-about-archimedes)Most likely · newly read passages of The Method show Archimedes treating infinitely many objects as completed wholes and… [What in the palimpsest remains unread or unidentified?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/archimedes-palimpsest/questions/QST0CT7N4VA52VA/what-in-the-palimpsest-remains-unread-or-unidentified)Most likely · much of what remains is physically lost to scraping, mould and missing leaves and cannot be recovered by any… [ Ask a question under this one ]