Archaeologists in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, made an unusual discovery—a 1,600-year-old mummy with a piece of The Iliad placed on its abdomen. This is the first time a well-known literary text has been found directly connected to a burial.

The fragment was identified as part of Book II of The Iliad and was found in Al Bahnasa, south of Cairo. In the past, similar materials found in mummies were usually religious texts, not famous works of literature.

Researchers aren’t exactly sure why the text was placed there. Some think it might have had a spiritual or protective purpose, while others believe it could have been something added by the person who prepared the body.

The team also discovered other tombs with mummies. Some had gold or copper placed on their tongues, which people at the time believed would help them speak in the afterlife. They also found jars with burned remains, as well as bones of infants and animals wrapped in cloth.

This discovery shows that literature like The Iliad may have had deeper meaning in ancient times—not just for reading, but possibly for spiritual use too. It also suggests that the people buried this way may have been wealthy or important.

Overall, the finding gives new insight into how people in ancient Egypt combined culture, beliefs, and daily life.