The stomach of an Egyptian mummy concealed a copy of the Iliad – Archaeologists were stunned (photos)

Archaeologists discovered a transcript of Homer’s Iliad connected papyrus wrong the tummy of a mummy in Al-Bahnasa, Egypt. This is the archetypal clip a Greek literary substance has been recovered incorporated into the preservation process. This peculiar archaeological find has large implications for burial practices and spiritual beingness successful past Egypt.

According to accusation from The Independent, the papyrus fragment was discovered successful the abdomen of a mummy that had been buried during the Roman play successful Oxyrhynchus about 1,600 years ago. Oxyrhynchus, known successful the clip of the Pharaohs arsenic Per-Medjed, was 1 of the astir important cities of Greco-Roman Egypt. Its ruins are located successful the modern municipality of Al-Bahnasa, astir 190 km southbound of Cairo, adjacent to a subdivision of the Nile known arsenic Bahr Yussef.

Researchers from the Institute for the Study of the Ancient Near East astatine the University of Barcelona discovered the mummy during an excavation carried retired betwixt November and December 2025. However, they recovered that the mummy had an antithetic feature: a papyrus had been placed successful its abdomen arsenic portion of the embalming ritual.

In the past, Egyptian mummies from that play person been discovered bearing papyri written successful Greek, but each contained texts of a magical oregon ritual nature. “This is not the archetypal clip we person recovered Greek papyri, folded, sealed, and incorporated into the mummification process, but until present their contented was chiefly magical,” said Ignasi-Xavier Adiego, prof successful the Department of Classical, Romance, and Semitic Languages.

“Moreover, it is worthy noting that since the precocious 19th century, a immense fig of papyri person been discovered successful Oxyrhynchus, including Greek literate texts of large importance. However, the existent innovation is uncovering a literate papyrus successful a funerary context,” the prof pointed out.

First clip a Greek literate substance is recovered successful an embalming context
The find of the Iliad papyrus marks the archetypal clip that a Greek literate substance has been recovered successful an embalming context, researchers note. According to them, the information of the Iliad identified successful the caller excavation includes portion of the “Catalogue of Ships,” a celebrated transition listing the Greek forces assembled earlier Troy.

Researchers said they are not definite wherefore this circumstantial Greek substance was chosen for the mummification process.

Mummification during the Roman play successful Oxyrhynchus
Mummification during the Roman play successful Oxyrhynchus combined accepted Egyptian, Greek, and Roman customs. Ancient Egyptian priests of the clip focused connected preserving bodies for implicit 40 days, utilizing natron to dehydrate them and wrapping them successful linen.

Instead of utilizing accepted canopic jars to sphere organs, they preferred to capable the assemblage with preservative materials on with papyri containing Greek literature, sealed with clay wrong the thorax oregon pelvic cavity. Coffins and wrappings often displayed a substance of Egyptian and Roman motifs.

So far, excavations successful Oxyrhynchus person revealed 3 limestone chambers containing Roman-era mummies and decorated woody sarcophagi. Previous excavations successful the past metropolis led to the find of 52 mummies from the Ptolemaic period, much than a twelve of which had “golden tongues,” a awesome of mentation for the afterlife.