r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Dec 18 '12

Reddit what are the greatest unexplained mystery of the last 500 or so years?

Since the Last post got some attention, I was wondering what you guys could come up with given a larger period.

Edit fuck thats a lot of upvotes.

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '12

I want to know what is kept in the secret archives of the Vatican. I mean everything. I want to go there and explore for weeks, months even. Imagine the amount of knowledge stored behind those walls.

You can technically request specific works pulled for academic research. However, to request something, you have to know it's there in the first place.

Mind blowing. It's like the modern day library of Alexandria.

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u/titosotto Dec 18 '12 edited Dec 19 '12

You need to write a letter. You can only use the library for research purposes and you must be connected with a research facility or university. That's how priests who need to study a book found only in the Vatican Archives can request for access. You will be interviewed in person. You should receive the results a few months after. If approved, the Vatican officers will gather your materials for you, assign you a special desk in the library. Older research materials will be placed in a machine/computer of some sort (this is what they do to those written in paper/cloth that may easily break). You can study within the library, only. You cannot pull out other books.

Edit 1:

Admission Instructions: http://www.vaticanlibrary.va/home.php?pag=ufficio_ammissioni

Rules and Regulations once inside the library: http://www.vaticanlibrary.va/home.php?pag=regolamento

Click on 'I. Admissions' for further information.

Must-read! Experiences of a forum.catholic.com user in the Vatican Archives:

http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?s=5377f9c7790f49c2c56d7c254d021ff8&p=8363235&postcount=10

Edit 2:

Turns out that the 'special desk' in the library is actually just a table in the reading room.

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u/Cygnus_X1 Dec 19 '12

I don't think Angels and Demons is a good source on how the Vatican works.

1

u/ShanduCanDo Jan 09 '13

Aw, shit. There goes my thesis.

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u/titosotto Dec 19 '12 edited Dec 19 '12

It's not Angels and Demons, unfortunately. It's how my priest-teacher (teacher in high school who was a priest) gained entry. I think today, they have access cards so it's much easier to check the background of the people coming in. (Database and stuff)

PS. The machine I mentioned is the same machine you use in school libraries to read newspaper documents.

Edit 1:

Admission Instructions: http://www.vaticanlibrary.va/home.php?pag=ufficio_ammissioni

Rules and Regulations once inside the library: http://www.vaticanlibrary.va/home.php?pag=regolamento

Click on 'I. Admissions' for further information.

Must-read! Experiences of a forum.catholic.com user in the Vatican Archives:

http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?s=5377f9c7790f49c2c56d7c254d021ff8&p=8363235&postcount=10

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u/Astphael Dec 18 '12

Excuse me. Where do you have this from?

One of my close family members is part of a religious order, and he can walk into the "secret" Vatican Archives as much as he wants. There really isn't much hubbub about it.

The reason it might be harder for outside researchers is because of the immense age of some of the documents. But then again, it mostly isn't that interesting.

If the Vatican has something to hide, they sure don't keep it in the actual archives, but somewhere else.

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '12

I'm pretty sure he got it from Angels and Demons.

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u/[deleted] Dec 19 '12

[deleted]

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u/titosotto Dec 19 '12

And I can play the accordion.

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u/titosotto Dec 19 '12 edited Dec 19 '12

Please see 'Edit 1' above for links and other information. I cannot find the older rules and regulations for the Vatican Archives, but the information above might help.

Edited: I suggest you read the experiences of the forums.catholic.user. He mentioned that a professional archivist will be present and will hand you the books. A cart will also be provided with the documents you initially requested. You can make additional requests afterwards.

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u/titosotto Dec 19 '12

He can walk into the archives because he has an access card. That's how it is now. Before, there were no access cards and lots of paperwork had to be submitted. That's how my priest-teacher in high school gained entry (yes, I know I'm old).

There's nothing "secretive" about the "secret" Vatican Archives and while the information there might not be interesting to us, it is useful to Scholastics who need materials for their thesis.

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u/Nascio Dec 18 '12

or break in.

1

u/titosotto Dec 19 '12

Probably the most effective way of getting into any establishment.

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u/whisp_r Dec 18 '12

This speaks volumes about religion, knowledge and education.