"Why Was This Here?" First-Ever Discovery: 1,600-Year-Old Mummy Found With Unexpected Item in Abdomen

Papyrus containing an ancient Greek literary work has been discovered in the abdomen of a Roman-era mummy excavated from an ancient Egyptian archaeological site. This is the first known case where literary texts were used in the process of mummy-making, and it is expected to provide new insights into ancient funerary culture.

On April 24 (local time), the British media outlet The Independent and the science publication Live Science reported that researchers from the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the University of Barcelona excavated a Roman-era mummy, estimated to be about 1,600 years old, from the Al Bahnasa region in central Egypt. The excavation took place between November and December 2025.

Two mummies (left) and a copy of the 'Iliad' found on the body of a mummy at a cemetery in Egypt. Professor Digna Xavier Adiego of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

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During the analysis of the mummy, the research team found fragments of papyrus inside the abdomen, which were identified as part of the epic poem ‘Iliad’ by the ancient Greek poet Homer. The passage in question appears in Book 2 and refers to the list of Greek armies that participated in the Trojan War.

The ‘Iliad’ is an epic that was passed down orally and compiled around the 8th century BCE, set during the final phase of the Trojan War and depicting the battles between the Greek coalition and Troy. It centers on the anger and battles of the hero Achilles, as well as themes of human honor and fate, and is regarded as a foundational classic of Western literature.

This discovery is clearly distinguished from previous cases. The region is the site of the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus, where hundreds of thousands of Greek papyri have been unearthed in the past, but most contained texts related to magic or spells. There had been no reported cases of literary works being inserted during funerary practices.

Graveyard where Ilias Mira was buried. Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

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The research team believes that the papyrus was intentionally inserted during the mummification process. The joint team has suggested that the document may have been used to protect the deceased in the afterlife or to impart specific meaning. However, the precise significance of this custom has yet to be determined.

At the site, a limestone funerary complex was found along with numerous mummies and damaged wooden coffins. The researchers believe that the mummy is most likely male and are conducting further analysis.

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