Archaeologists found Homer's Iliad inside a 1,600-year-old Egyptian mummy
Archaeologists in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, discovered a papyrus fragment of Homer's Iliad inside a 1,600-year-old Roman-era mummy. This is the first known instance of a Greek literary text being intentionally incorporated into the mummification process, as previous finds were ritualistic. The fragment is from the "Catalogue of Ships" in Book II.
Why it matters
This discovery provides unique insight into ancient Egyptian burial practices and the cultural significance of Greek literature, suggesting a deeper integration of literary works into daily and ritual life than previously understood.
Archaeologists working at the ancient Egyptian site of Oxyrhynchus have made a remarkable discovery: a papyrus containing a passage from Homer's Iliad was found inside a Roman-era mummy dating back about 1,600 years. Researchers say it is the first known case in archaeological history in which a Greek literary text was intentionally incorporated into the mummification process.
The find was made by the Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, directed by Maite Mascort and Esther Pons through the Institute of Ancient Near East Studies (IPOA) at the University of Barcelona. It comes from Al Bahnasa, the modern town located at the site of ancient Oxyrhynchus in Egypt.
During excavations conducted between November and December 2025, a team led by N ria Castellano uncovered a Roman-era mummy in Tomb 65 of Sector 22. Resting on the mummy's abdomen was a papyrus that had been deliberately placed there as part of the embalming ritual.
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