Iliad Fragments Found with Egyptian Mummy

Why this is here: The papyrus fragments represent the first discovery of a Greek literary text buried with a mummy from the Roman era in Egypt.

Archaeologists from the University of Barcelona discovered papyrus fragments of Homer’s Iliad at a gravesite in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, roughly 190 miles south of Cairo. The find marks the first time a Greek literary work appears with a mummy from the Roman period. Previous discoveries at the site include religious texts and writings about magic.

Researchers speculate the non-royal man buried with the poem may have believed the Iliad—which includes passages about the Greek fleet—would secure his status and ease his journey into the afterlife. The recovered fragments are part of a larger collection of papyri found at Oxyrhynchus, dating back to antiquity.

The texts remain fragmented and incomplete. Scholars continue to translate and piece together the recovered papyri, hoping to learn more about daily life and beliefs in Roman Egypt. Further research may reveal the extent of literacy and cultural exchange during this period.