Archaeologists at the ancient Oxyrhynchus ruins in Egypt have made a groundbreaking discovery: a papyrus fragment featuring a line from Homer’s epic poem, Iliad. This remarkable find was located inside a Roman-era mummy, dating back approximately 1,600 years. Experts suggest that this is the first instance in archaeological history where a Greek literary text has been intentionally included in the mummification process.
The discovery was made by the Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, led by Maite Mascourt and Esther Pons, affiliated with the Institute of Ancient Near East Research (IPOA) at the University of Barcelona. It was unearthed in Al-Bafnasa, modern-day Egypt, which corresponds to the site of ancient Oxyrhynchus.
Literary Papyrus Found In Mummification
During excavations conducted from November to December 2025, Nuria Castellano and her team uncovered a Roman-era mummy in Tomb 65, Sector 22. A piece of papyrus had been intentionally placed in the mummy’s abdomen, indicating its role in the embalming ritual.
While previous excavations have revealed Greek papyri in similar locations, they typically consisted of magical or ritual texts. This recent discovery, featuring literary works—specifically from Homer’s Iliad—marks a significant shift.
Experts Analyze Famous Passages from Iliad
The fragile papyrus was meticulously examined during the second research campaign between January and February 2026. Conservator Margarida Munar, papyrus expert Lea Mascia, and Professor Ignasi-Xavier Addiego from the Department of Classics, Romance, and Semitic Languages collaborated to study the fragment.
Through his analysis of the text, Professor Addiego identified it as a fragment from Homer’s Catalog of Ships in Book 2 of the Iliad. This iconic section details the Greek army’s preparation for the Trojan War and is celebrated as one of the most notable passages in Western literature.
Professor Addiego remarked: “While we have previously discovered Greek papyri sealed within the mummification process, their content has primarily been magical. However, since the 19th century, a significant number of Greek literary texts have emerged from Oxyrhynchus, which makes this discovery of literary papyri in a funerary context particularly noteworthy.”
The Excavation of Ancient Oxyrhynchus
This thrilling discovery was made at the Al-Bafnasa cemetery, identified with the historic city of Oxyrhynchus, one of Egypt’s critical cities during the Greco-Roman era. Located about 120 miles south of Cairo near the Bahr Youssef branch of the Nile River, Oxyrhynchus has long been recognized for its rich cache of ancient papyri.
The excavations unveiled a burial complex comprising three limestone chambers housing Roman mummies and ornately decorated wooden sarcophagi. Many of these tombs have suffered damage from past looting, leaving some artifacts in a deteriorated state.
A Long-term Archaeological Mission
The Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, initiated by the University of Barcelona in 1992 under Professor Josep Padro, stands as Spain’s longest-running archaeological project and one of the most esteemed in Egypt.
The latest field season, which took place from November 2025 to February 2026, yielded numerous discoveries regarded as historically and archaeologically significant.
This mission receives support from the Ministry of Culture, University of Barcelona, Palarcu Foundation, Catalan Egyptological Association, and AIXA Serveis Arqueològics. It also collaborates closely with the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities and Cairo University.
The latest findings were recently presented in a public lecture series at the Gabriel Oliver Room at the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Philosophy and Communication, featuring discussions by project members on topics such as archaeology, anthropology, and conservation.
Source: www.sciencedaily.com