Rare 1,700-Year-Old Odyssey Fragment Found Hidden in Dutch Library Collection

A researcher examining archival materials at a Dutch university library has uncovered a fragment of Homer’s “Odyssey” dating back approximately 1,700 years. Mark de Kreij, a professor of Greek literature at Radboud University, identified the torn piece of parchment while investigating early Christian manuscripts held by the Utrecht University library.

The fragment, measuring roughly 2.6 by 3 inches, originates from a pocket-sized edition of the epic produced in Egypt around A.D. 300. It contains verses from Book 12 of the “Odyssey,” specifically depicting the aftermath of Odysseus’ men killing and eating the sacred cattle of the sun god Helios. According to the narrative, Helios demanded vengeance from the gods, leading Zeus to destroy the crew’s ship, sparing only Odysseus.

De Kreij, who first identified the artifact in 2024, described the passage as particularly engaging compared to other sections of the epic. The find is significant because only about 30 similar fragments from pocket-sized codices have ever been documented. De Kreij suggests the piece likely survived because it originated from the middle of the codex, where it was shielded by surrounding pages.

Utrecht University confirmed the discovery in a statement released on Sept. 14. The library acquired the broader collection of Egyptian and Greek texts in the mid-20th century, though the specific circumstances of how this particular fragment became part of the collection remain unknown.

This event marks the second instance this year where a Homeric fragment has been unexpectedly located. In the spring, archaeologists in Egypt found papyrus pieces of the “Iliad” inside a Roman-era mummy. Both the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey” were composed in the late eighth or early seventh century B.C., chronicling the Trojan War and Odysseus’ decade-long journey home, respectively.

De Kreij’s comprehensive study of the university’s Greco-Roman texts from Egypt is slated for publication soon in a book titled “Hieratic, Demotic, Greek, and Coptic Texts in the Utrecht University Collection.”