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Archaeologists stunned to find copy of Homer’s Iliad inside ancient Egyptian mummy

Archaeologists have found a papyrus copy ofHomer'sIliadin the gut of anancient Egyptian mummy, the first time ever that a Greek literary text has been found incorporated into the preservation process.

The discovery has big implications for our knowledge offunerary practicesand religious life in ancient Egypt.

Thepapyrus fragmentwas discovered in the abdomen of a mummy buried in a Roman-era tomb around 1,600 years ago inOxyrhynchus.

Oxyrhynchus, known in the Pharaonic times as Per-Medjed, was one of the most important cities of Greco-Roman Egypt. Its remains are in the present-day town of Al Bahnasa, about 190 km south of Cairo, next to the branch of the Nile known as Bahr Yussef.

Researchers from the Institute of Ancient Near East Studies at the University of Barcelona found the mummy during a recent excavation campaign carried out between November and December 2025.

They found the mummy featured an unusual element, a papyrus placed on the abdomen as part of the embalming ritual.

Papyrus containing Homer’s ‘Iliad’ inside Roman-era mummy (University of Barcelona)

Egyptian mummies from this period have previously been found to carry papyri written in Greek, but they have all carried text of magical or ritualistic content.

The discovery of theIliadpapyrus marks the first time that a Greek literary text has been found in the embalming context, researchers note.

The epic poem, divided into 24 books, is attributed to Homer and dates back to the 8th century BC.

It mainly focuses onthe Trojan Warand the heroic deeds and tragic fate of Achilles, the mightiest warrior of the Greek army.

The poem unfolds a few weeks into the final year of the war, depicting the wrath of Achilles after he’s slighted by the Greek commander Agamemnon, delving into themes of pride, fate, honour, and mortality.

It combines elements of ancient Greek culture and mythology, providing valuable insights into the values of the ancient Greeks, continuing to be relevant even in modern times, inspiring countless adaptations.

View of one of the areas at the archaeological site (University of Barcelona)

The identifiedIliadtext in the recent dig belongs to the catalogue of ships in Book II of the epic poem, researchers say.

It contains a famous passage listing the Greek forces massing before Troy.

Researchers said they were unsure why this particular Greek text was chosen for the mummification process.

Roman-era mummification in Oxyrhynchus combined traditional Egyptian, Greek, and Roman customs.

Ancient Egyptian priests of the time focused on preserving bodies for over 40 days, using natron salt to dehydrate them and wrapping them up in linen.

Instead of using traditionalcanopic jarsto preserve organs, they preferred to pack the body with preserved materials along with papyri containing Greek literature sealed with clay inside the chest or pelvic cavity.

Coffins and wrappings frequently displayed a mixture of Egyptian and Roman motifs.

One of the tombs found at Oxyrhynchus (University of Barcelona)

“This is not the first time we have found Greek papyri, bundled, sealed, and incorporated into the mummification process, but until now, their content was mainly magical,” Ignasi-Xavier Adiego, a professor in the Department of Classical, Romance and Semitic Languages, said.

“Furthermore, it is worth noting that since the late 19th century, a huge number of papyri have been discovered at Oxyrhynchus, including Greek literary texts of great importance, but the real novelty is finding a literary papyrus in a funerary context.”

One of the areas at the Oxyrhynchus archaeological site (University of Barcelona)

So far, excavations at Oxyrhynchus have revealed three limestone chambers containingRoman-era mummiesand decorated wooden sarcophagi.

Previous campaigns in the ancient city led to the discovery of 52 Ptolemaic-era mummies, of which over a dozen had "golden tongues", a symbol of preparation for afterlife.

byAdministrator

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April 21, 2026

Archaeologists stunned to find copy of Homer’s Iliad inside ancient Egyptian mummy

Archaeologists have found a papyrus copy ofHomer'sIliadin the gut of anancient Egyptian mummy, the first time ever that a Greek lit...

World Cup 2026 news live: Philadelphia announces free transportation to games

World Cup 2026 transportation in Philadelphia is going to look a lot different than some other cities.

On Monday, April 20, the Philadelphia host committee announced an agreement with Airbnb that will see fans receive free rides on SEPTA trains after all six matches the city will host this summer.

The rides on the Broad Street Line from NRG Station will begin at halftime and continue for two hours following the end of each match.

Last week, SEPTA announced that fares will be at the normal $2.90 rate for fans riding their trains this summer. But now, fans who exit near Lincoln Financial Field will not have to pay anything.

"Accessibility has been a central priority for Philadelphia Soccer 2026 since our bid, and we are grateful to Airbnb for sharing our fan-centered vision for FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia," said Daniel Hilferty, co-chair of Philadelphia Soccer 2026.