A papyrus containing the text of a Homeric poem was found inside a mummy in Egypt

During excavations in the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus, archaeologists discovered a mummy dating back approximately 1,600 years, inside which a fragment of an ancient Greek epic was preserved. Researchers determined that the scroll containing lines from the *Iliad* was used directly during the embalming of the body. 

The Independent reports on the uniqueness of the find, discovered by researchers from the University of Barcelona.

Excavations south of Cairo took place in late 2025 at the site of the ancient city of Per-Medjed. Although papyri containing magical texts had previously been found in burials, this marks the first recorded instance of classical literature being used as embalming material. The discovery demonstrates the spread of Greek culture in Egypt and its integration into local burial rites.

We previously reported that the recent discovery of two skeletons mutilated in the same manner suggests that limb amputation was used as a punishment during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in China, over 2,000 years ago.

We also recall that during excavations in the ancient city of Laodicea in the Turkish province of Denizli, which is included on UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites, a statue of Asclepius, the god of medicine in Greek and Roman mythology, and the head of a statue of his daughter Hygieia were discovered.