Archaeologists Find 1,600-Year-Old Iliad Fragment on Egyptian Mummy
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 22
Archaeologists Find 1,600-Year-Old Iliad Fragment on Egyptian Mummy
10 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 22
A 1,600-year-old papyrus fragment from Homer's "Iliad" was found laid on a mummy's abdomen in a Roman-era tomb at Al Bahnasa, the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt.
University of Barcelona researchers said the text was deliberately inserted during embalming, making it the first known case of a Greek literary work incorporated into the mummification process.
Papyrologist Leah Mascia identified the fragment as lines from Book II describing Greek forces preparing for the Trojan War; earlier papyri found in similar positions carried magical or ritual texts instead.
The tomb complex contained three limestone burial chambers, Roman-era mummies and decorated wooden sarcophagi, though archaeologists said looting had damaged parts of the site.
The find adds to a recent run of major Egyptian discoveries and underscores Oxyrhynchus' importance as a rich source of Greek texts from the Greco-Roman world.
What forgotten ritual power did Homer's Iliad hold for the dead in Roman Egypt?
Was Homer's Iliad a symbol of status, a magical charm, or just costly mummy wrap?
Unveiling a 1,600-Year-Old Iliad Papyrus in an Egyptian Mummy: Cultural Fusion and Archaeological Breakthrough at Oxyrhynchus
Overview
A remarkable archaeological discovery in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, revealed a 1,600-year-old papyrus fragment from Homer’s Iliad, found repurposed as part of a Roman-era mummy’s cartonnage. This find, made by the University of Barcelona’s long-running Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, highlights the deep cultural fusion of Roman Egypt, where Greek literature was not only valued but also integrated into burial practices. The latest excavation campaign brought to light this unique artifact, offering new insights into how classical Greek texts endured and became part of ancient Egyptian funerary traditions.