Archaeologists working at the Oxyrhynchus ruins in ancient Egypt have made a surprising discovery. It was a papyrus containing a line from Homer’s poem. Iliad It was discovered inside a Roman-era mummy from about 1,600 years ago. Researchers say this is the first time in archaeological history that a Greek literary text was intentionally incorporated into the mummification process.
The discovery was made by the Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, directed by Maite Mascourt and Esther Pons, through the Institute of Ancient Near East Research (IPOA) at the University of Barcelona. It originates from Al-Bafnasa, a modern town located on the ancient Oxyrhynchus ruins in Egypt.
Literary papyrus used in mummification
During excavations carried out between November and December 2025, a team led by Nuria Castellano discovered a Roman-era mummy in Tomb 65 in Sector 22. A piece of papyrus had fallen into the mummy’s abdomen, intentionally placed there as part of the embalming ritual.
The team had previously discovered Greek papyri placed in a similar position during previous excavations. However, these texts were consistently magical or ritualistic in nature. This is the first time that literary works, particularly the works of Homer, have been featured. Iliadidentified in its role.
Experts identify famous passages Iliad
The papyrus was studied in detail during the second research campaign held in January and February 2026. The fragile document was examined by conservator Margarida Munar, papyrus scholar Lea Mascia, and Ignasi-Xavier Addiego, a professor in the Department of Classics, Romance and Semitic languages, classical philologist, and director of the Oxyrhynchus project.
Using his reading of the Ria Mascia text, Professor Addiego determined that the fragment came from Homer’s Catalog of Ships, Book 2 of his writings. Iliad. This famous section enumerates the Greek army preparing for the Trojan War and is considered one of the most famous passages in Western literature.
Professor Addiego said: “This is not the first time we have found Greek papyri bound, sealed and incorporated into the mummification process, but until now their content has been primarily magical. Furthermore, after the 19th century… It is noteworthy that a huge number of papyri containing very important Greek literary texts have been discovered at Oxyrhynchus since the 19th century, but the real novelty is the discovery of literary papyri in a funerary context.
Excavation of ancient Oxyrhynchus
The discovery was made at the Al-Bafnasa cemetery, an archaeological site identified with ancient Oxyrhynchus, one of Egypt’s most important cities during the Greco-Roman period. The site, located about 120 miles south of Cairo near the Bahr Youssef branch of the Nile River, has long been known as the site of thousands of ancient papyri.
Excavations uncovered a burial complex consisting of three limestone burial chambers containing Roman mummies and decorated wooden sarcophagi. Many of the tombs had been damaged by looting in the past, and some artifacts were left in poor condition.
long-term archaeological mission
The Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission of the University of Barcelona began in 1992 under the direction of Professor Josep Padro. This project is the longest running in Spain and one of the most established archaeological projects in Egypt.
The latest field season, which ran from November 2025 to February 2026, yielded a number of discoveries that researchers describe as having historical and archaeological significance.
The mission is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the University of Barcelona, the Palarcu Foundation, the Catalan Egyptological Association and the AIXA Serveis Arqueològics. It also collaborates with the Supreme Council of Egyptian Antiquities and Cairo University.
The research team’s latest findings were recently presented at a public lecture series held in the Gabriel Oliver Room at the Faculty of Philosophy and Communication at the University of Barcelona. The program included lectures by project members on archaeology, anthropology, and conservation.
