- Archaeologists have discovered a papyrus fragment of Homer's Iliad inside the abdomen of an ancient Egyptian mummy, dating back approximately 1,600 years.
- The mummy was found in a Roman-era tomb in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, by researchers from the University of Barcelona during a recent excavation campaign.
- This discovery marks the first time a Greek literary text has been found incorporated into the mummification process, as previous papyri in this context were typically magical or ritualistic.
- The papyrus, identified as part of the catalogue of ships from Book II of the Iliad, was placed on the mummy's abdomen as part of the embalming ritual.
- The finding offers new insights into funerary practices and religious life in Greco-Roman Egypt, where mummification sometimes included Greek literature.
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