Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Announce A Spanish archaeological mission from the University of Barcelona, in cooperation with the Institute of the Ancient Near East, working at the ancient site of Oxyrhynchus (currently Al-Bahnasa in Minya Governorate) found… openOn April 18, a mummy containing part of a literary text from the Book of Homer was discovered.Iliad“Put it on his stomach.
The Iliad, an ancient Greek epic poem composed around the late 8th or early 7th century BCE, takes place during the final weeks of the ten-year Trojan War. This represents the first known example of a non-ritual literary work used in the mummification process.
The discovery dates back to approximately 1,600 years ago in the Roman era in Egypt. The papyrus fragment, although badly deteriorated, has been identified as part of the “Catalog of Ships” from Book II of the ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer.
According to Ignasi Xavier Adego, a philologist at the University of Barcelona, who is part of the research team, this discovery represents a significant departure from previously known practices. He added: “This is a big development for us.” “Until now, we did not know that they would have used literary texts as part of these funerary rituals.”
While papyrus has been found associated with mummies before, they typically contain ritual formulas or protective talismans. The use of a literary passage raises new questions about the symbolic or cultural significance of these texts in burial rituals.
Although the papyrus is in a fragile and fragmented state, researchers were able to do this identification Its origins. However, further analysis remains limited. “We have not had the opportunity to study it using high-tech methods such as X-rays, which might allow us to read it better,” Adego explained. “We did everything we could without destroying the papyrus.”
Wider excavations, carried out in coordination with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, revealed additional interesting findings. Three limestone tombs containing multiple mummies were uncovered. Of these, three individuals were found with gold foil applied to their tongues, while another was found carrying copper, an unusual practice believed to have a ritual or symbolic meaning.
The graves also contained large urns filled with cremated human remains. In one room, archaeologists found a bowl containing the cremated remains of an adult human, along with the bones of an infant and the head of a feline, all wrapped in cloth. A second room revealed a similar jar containing the remains of two people and the bones of animals of the same species.
As researchers continue to examine the site, many questions remain unanswered, especially regarding the role of the Homeric text in the mummification process. One hypothesis suggests that such papyri could have served as a form of signature by the embalmer. Another possibility is that it had a protective function, similar to ritual texts found in other burials.
However, Adiego cautions against premature conclusions. “The idea that a papyrus containing a literary text could perform the same function is very strange,” he said. “Therefore, up to this point, we are unable to explain why this literary papyrus exists.”
Beyond the scientific mystery, this discovery also sheds light on the social status of those buried at the site. Although little is known about their identities, the complexity of the burial suggests that their families had significant means.
As the research continues, the researchers hope that further analysis will shed light on the role of literary culture in burial traditions and deepen understanding of the cultural intersections that defined life and death in Roman Egypt.