The excerpt is known as the Catalogue of Ships, in which Homer lists the ships of the Achaeans who campaigned against Troy. The discovery of a classical Greek literary text inside an Egyptian mummy is extremely rare.
EDITED BY: GIANNIS KATSAROS
April 21, 2026 • 06:35
Archaeologists working at the archaeological site of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt discovered a Roman-era tomb that combines rare burial objects with an unexpected literary finding: a papyrus fragment from Homer's Iliad, hidden inside a mummy.
The Spanish-Egyptian excavation team working at the ancient site of Oxyrhynchus (modern El-Bahnasa) discovered a Roman-era necropolis containing mummies adorned with golden tongue amulets.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt speaks of one of the most important recent discoveries in Central Egypt. The excavation was carried out by researchers from the University of Barcelona and the Institute of the Ancient Near East, under the direction of Dr. Maite Mascort and Dr. Esther Pons Mellado.
A rare combination of Egyptian and Greek traditions
The newly discovered tomb complex dates back to the Roman period and is located east of a previously identified Ptolemaic-era tomb known as Tomb 67. Archaeologists have dug a moat, revealing three limestone burial chambers, which today have suffered significant damage due to age and looting.
Within these chambers, the researchers identified unusual burial practices. Large ceramic vessels contained cremated human remains, an uncommon feature in Egyptian archaeology, along with infant bones and even feline skulls, all carefully wrapped in fabrics. This suggests a ritual that combines cremation with traditional burial customs, offering new insights into evolving funerary practices during the transition from the Ptolemaic to the Roman period.
At a short distance, the team also discovered terracotta and bronze figurines, including depictions of the god Harpocrates (i.e., a god of the Egyptian pantheon, known as Horus, son of Isis and Osiris) as a rider and a small statue of Eros. These findings reinforce the presence of Greco-Roman religious influences in the area, suggesting a culturally diverse society where Egyptian, Greek, and Roman beliefs coexisted.
Golden tongues and the afterlife
One of the most impressive aspects of the discovery comes from another burial structure known as Tomb 65, an underground chamber. Here, archaeologists discovered several Roman-era mummies, some wrapped in linen fabric decorated with geometric patterns and accompanied by painted wooden coffins. Among the grave goods were three golden tongues and one bronze tongue, placed inside the mouths of the dead. It was believed that these amulets ensured that the deceased could speak in the afterlife, especially when facing the judgment of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld. This practice, although documented elsewhere, is particularly significant in Oxyrhynchus due to its direct connection with an underground setting and the additional evidence for the application of gold leaf on certain mummies. Such details suggest that the individuals buried here likely belonged to a wealthy elite class.
Catalogue of Ships: The Iliad's Papyrus Constituting a Literary Mystery
The most exciting discovery, however, is found inside one of the mummies: a rare fragment of papyrus containing text from the B Book of the Iliad. Specifically, the excerpt is known as the Catalogue of Ships, in which Homer enumerates the ships of the Achaeans who marched against Troy. The finding of a classical Greek literary text inside an Egyptian mummy is extremely rare and raises fascinating questions. Why was this text included in the burial? Does it represent a status symbol for education, social prestige, or cultural identity? Or did it have a deeper ritual significance? Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, emphasized that this discovery adds a new spiritual dimension to the archaeological site.
It suggests that the local elite in Oxyrhynchus was not simply influenced by Greek culture, but actively engaged with the literary traditions of Ancient Greece.
Oxyrhynchus: A Historical Center of Knowledge
Oxyrhynchus is known to historians for the enormous number of papyri that have been discovered there since the late 19th century, including literary works, official documents, as well as records of everyday life. However, most of these texts were found in ancient rubbish heaps, not in burial complexes. This fact makes the papyrus of the Iliad particularly significant. Its placement inside a mummy suggests a deliberate choice, possibly linking literature with beliefs about the afterlife or personal identity. Scholars believe that further analysis of the papyrus could reveal more information about writing and reading, education, and the circulation of Greek texts in Roman Egypt.
It may also provide clues about how classical works were valued outside the major cultural centers of Egypt, such as Alexandria.
The findings recovered from the archaeological site, including the papyrus, are now undergoing conservation and detailed study. Experts will use advanced imaging and papyrology techniques to analyze the text and the context in which it fits. As the research continues, the combination of cremation burials, traditional mummification, gold tongue amulets, and a fragment of the Iliad paints a vivid picture of a society in cultural transition. All these elements together make the discovery not only an archaeological milestone but also a powerful reminder of how interconnected ancient civilizations really were.
They reflect the way in which Egyptian traditions adapted and merged with Greek and Roman influences during a period of historical upheavals.
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