A papyrus containing a passage from Homer's Iliad has been found inside a Roman-era mummy in Egypt. The discovery marks the first known instance of a Greek literary text used intentionally in mummification. Researchers uncovered the artifact during recent excavations at the site of ancient Oxyrhynchus.
The find occurred during excavations conducted between November and December 2025 at Tomb 65 in Sector 22 of the Al Bahnasa necropolis. A team led by Núria Castellano from the University of Barcelona's Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission placed the papyrus on the mummy's abdomen as part of the embalming process.
Detailed study of the document took place in January and February 2026. Papyrologist Leah Mascia and professor Ignasi-Xavier Adiego identified the text as part of the "Catalogue of Ships" from Book II of the Iliad.
Professor Adiego noted that previous papyri found in similar contexts were magical or ritual in nature. The new discovery adds a literary element never before documented in funerary settings at the site.
The Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, active since 1992, presented the findings during a lecture series at the University of Barcelona. The site lies about 190 kilometers south of Cairo.