Homeric Literature and Gold Covered Mummies Discovered in Egypt
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Egypt · History & Archaeology · Ancient Places
A Rare Literary
Treasure
Homer's Iliad inside a mummy, golden tongues, and cremated remains — the extraordinary excavation at Al-Bahnasa
1992
University of Barcelona Mission Began
3 chambers
Limestone Burial Chambers Found
65
Tomb No. — Roman Mummies & Golden Tongues
The Discovery
Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the excavation was the discovery of a rare papyrus inside one of the mummies. According to Field Director Hassan Ibrahim Amer, the papyrus contains a passage from Book II of Homer's Iliad — specifically the section known as the "Catalogue of Ships," which describes the Greek forces that participated in the Trojan War.
"The presence of this literary masterpiece within a burial context adds a unique cultural and historical dimension to the site, underscoring the profound Greek influence in Al-Bahnasa during the Roman period."
Al-Bahnasa, known in antiquity as Oxyrhynchus, was one of the most important cities in Egypt during the Greco-Roman era. The city has long been celebrated for its vast cache of papyri, which have provided scholars with invaluable information about daily life, administration, and literature in ancient times.
Related Discoveries
This find connects to a broader pattern of extraordinary burial customs uncovered across Egypt in recent seasons:
Exploring the Limestone Chambers
Further excavations east of a previously discovered Ptolemaic tomb revealed a trench containing three limestone-built chambers. The contents of each chamber painted a complex picture of burial ritual:
Chamber One — A large jar containing the cremated remains of an adult, the bones of an infant, and the head of a feline, all carefully wrapped in textile
Chamber Two — A similar jar with the cremated remains of two individuals and additional feline bones, pointing to blended cremation and inhumation customs
South of Site — A collection of small terracotta and bronze figurines, including Harpocrates portrayed as a horseman and a small figure of Cupid
These artifacts beautifully illustrate the blending of Egyptian and Greco-Roman artistic traditions. A fusion that characterized the entire region during this extraordinary period.
Oxyrhynchus — City of Papyri
Al-Bahnasa's ancient identity as Oxyrhynchus placed it at the crossroads of culture, commerce, and scholarship in the ancient world. What makes this site uniquely significant:
01
One of the most important Greco-Roman cities in all of Egypt
02
Celebrated for its vast cache of papyri — windows into daily life, law, and literature
03
The University of Barcelona has maintained a mission here since 1992
04
The 2025–2026 campaign marks the first time human remains have been uncovered at the site
"The current campaign marks the first time human remains have been uncovered at Oxyrhynchus — a milestone three decades in the making."
What the Ground Yielded
Across the excavation area, the range of artifacts recovered reflects the rich, multicultural world of Greco-Roman Egypt:
Literary
Homer's Iliad — Book II, Catalogue of Ships — inside a mummy
Ritual
Golden tongues placed in mummies, painted wooden coffins
Figurines
Bronze & terracotta — Harpocrates, Cupid, and feline remains
Grave goods discovered at a Ptolemaic tomb near the site — Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Signs of Ancient Looting
In a nearby tomb, designated Tomb No. 65, the team found more Roman mummies, golden tongues, and painted wooden coffins housed within an underground burial chamber — a hypogeum. Unfortunately, many of these items showed signs of deterioration due to ancient looting.
"Nevertheless, the discoveries at Al-Bahnasa continue to shed light on the rich, multicultural tapestry of ancient Egypt — and the site's significance as a window into the Greco-Roman world is only growing with each new season."
The presence of both Greek literary texts and Egyptian ritual practices — golden tongues, feline offerings, cremation alongside inhumation — in the same burial ground speaks to a society comfortable with layered identities and inherited traditions from multiple civilizations.
- Roman mummies with decorated linen wrappings and golden tongues
- Painted wooden coffins showing signs of ancient disturbance
- Underground hypogeum chambers used for collective burial
- Cremated remains alongside traditional inhumation in the same trench
A Window Still Opening
Al-Bahnasa has given scholars papyri for more than a century. Now it is giving them something rarer still — the people themselves.
In a single trench, the ancient world collapsed its contradictions: Homer buried with the dead, Greek gods rendered in Egyptian bronze, Roman ritual layered over Ptolemaic stone.
Every season of excavation deepens the mystery and enriches the story of who we once were.
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