A Roman-era burial site in Egypt has produced a surprising archaeological find. A fragment of Homer’s Iliad was discovered inside a mummy dating back roughly 1,600 years. The site is located in Al Bahnasa, ancient Oxyrhynchus, about 190 kilometres south of Cairo. The papyrus was not placed outside the body or among burial goods. It was positioned inside the abdomen during mummification.
The Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, led by teams from the University of Barcelona, discovered during fieldwork in late 2025. The fragment is linked to Book II of the Iliad, specifically the Catalogue of Ships section. It lists Greek forces assembled for the Trojan War. The placement of a literary text in a funerary setting is unusual for this period.
