Archaeologists working at Al Bahnasa, the site of ancient Oxyrhynchus in Egypt, have made an unprecedented discovery. In Tomb 65 of Sector 22, excavators found a papyrus placed over the abdomen of a Roman-period mummy dating to around 1,600 years ago. Analysis has shown that the text is a passage from Homer’s Iliad, one of the most important works of ancient Greek literature. This finding is considered highly significant as it appears to be the first archaeological evidence for the deliberate use of a literary text as part of the mummification ritual.
The excavations are being carried out by the Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission of the University of Barcelona’s Institute for Near Eastern Studies. In previous seasons, the team had already identified papyri placed on top of mummies, but all of those texts were related to magic or religious rituals. For the first time, a literary work, and in particular a canonical masterpiece such as the Iliad, has been documented as an element in a funerary rite.
Passage from the Catalogue of Ships Identified
Specialists have determined that the papyrus preserves lines from Book 2 of the Iliad, from the famous "Catalogue of Ships" that lists the Greek contingents taking part in the Trojan War. Researchers note that written documents of this kind are unique sources for understanding the daily lives, beliefs and values of people in antiquity [4]. Through the study of the material remains of past societies, the discipline of archaeology continues to shed light on the long history of humankind [1].
The Al Bahnasa necropolis, where the discovery was made, lies about 190 kilometers south of Cairo and is regarded as one of the major cities of Graeco-Roman Egypt. The area is renowned for its ancient papyrus archives, preserved for millennia thanks to its arid climate. Recent work has also brought to light a tomb complex made up of three limestone burial chambers containing Roman-period mummies and elaborately decorated wooden coffins. Although some objects in the tombs had been damaged by looters in the past, the survival of this literary papyrus has generated considerable excitement in the scholarly community. For further context and additional reading, see [2] [3].
Sources and further reading
- [1] Archaeology
- [2] What Is an Archaeologist? (Job Duties and How To ...
- [3] Archaeologists You Should Know - Archaeological Institute of America
- [4] Archaeology
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