Episode

The Iliad’s Unexpected Journey into Ancient Egypt

Podcast

Curious City: Exploring Science and Wonders

Published

Aug 10, 2026

Duration seconds

2291

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https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iliad-s-unexpected-journey-into-ancient-egypt--72365035

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Summary

Archaeologists have uncovered a fragment of Homer’s Iliad inside the abdomen of a 1,600-year-old Egyptian mummy. Whether used as simple packing material or preserved for another purpose, the text reveals how deeply Greek literature had spread throughout the Roman world. The discovery also highlights how stories like the Trojan War were adapted and reused to shape cultural identity, politics, and collective memory across the empire.