Excerpt from the Iliad in a mummy's abdomen and gold tongues: rare discoveries made in Egypt

Archaeologists working at the necropolis of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt have made a series of rare discoveries, the most significant being a fragment of papyrus from Homer's Iliad found inside the abdominal cavity of a Roman-era mummy. This marks the first time a Greek literary text has been found incorporated into the ancient Egyptian embalming process, suggesting a unique hybridization of funerary practices.

The find, led by a team from the University of Barcelona, reveals a fascinating cultural fusion during a pivotal period between Ptolemaic heritage and Roman rule. The presence of the Iliad, alongside other discoveries like gold tongues placed in mouths for the afterlife and a mix of Egyptian and Roman artifacts, provides new insights into the complex syncretism of beliefs and rituals in ancient Egypt under foreign influence.