What was once dismissed as an unremarkable 7th-century parchment has been revealed as a rare and ancient fragment of Homer’s epic ‘Odyssey’, discovered by Professor Mark de Kreij at Utrecht University. Initially miscategorized among Coptic Christian manuscripts, the damaged and discolored fragment, featuring small, neat lettering, was eventually re-housed with Greek texts. De Kreij recognized familiar phrases from Homer’s epics, and further analysis confirmed it contains verses from Book 12, detailing the pivotal moment when Helios demands vengeance from Zeus after his sacred cattle are killed by Odysseus’ crew. Researchers estimate the fragment dates to the 3rd or 4th century A.D. and originates from the Fayum oasis in Egypt, making it one of only about 30 such fragments known to exist worldwide. While some scholars debate whether it belonged to a pocket-sized complete edition or a private anthology for educational purposes, the discovery underscores Homer’s enduring popularity and provides a tangible link to ancient readers who cherished the timeless work.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
