Story perspectives

Homer Fragment Discovered Wrapped Around 1,600-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy

5/1/2026

Summary

Story summary

Archaeologists found a Homer's Iliad fragment wrapped around a 1,600-year-old mummy’s abdomen, the first literary text in an Egyptian tomb.
Leah Mascia (University of Hamburg) reported the papyrus packets were sealed with clay embalmers’ seals.
The Roman-era mummy was uncovered at Oxyrhynchus near modern Al Bahnasa, Egypt.
Ignasi-Xavier Adiego said imaging is delayed to protect the papyrus while three gold-foil-tongued mummies showing looting were uncovered, prompting careful analysis.

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Story summary

Archaeologists found a Homer's Iliad fragment wrapped around a 1,600-year-old mummy’s abdomen, the first literary text in an Egyptian tomb.
Leah Mascia (University of Hamburg) reported the papyrus packets were sealed with clay embalmers’ seals.
The Roman-era mummy was uncovered at Oxyrhynchus near modern Al Bahnasa, Egypt.
Ignasi-Xavier Adiego said imaging is delayed to protect the papyrus while three gold-foil-tongued mummies showing looting were uncovered, prompting careful analysis.