1,700-year-old fragment of "Odyssey" discovered between pages of a library book, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/odyssey-fragment-found-library-netherlands-utrecht/)
17-09-2026
A 1,700-year-old fragment of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” was discovered tucked between the pages of an ancient book held in Utrecht University’s library in the Netherlands.
Here are the key details of the discovery:
The Discovery: The fragment was found by Dr. Mark de Kreij, a researcher from Radboud University, while examining a collection of early Christian manuscripts that Utrecht University acquired in the mid-20th century. While the piece was physically found around two years ago, the university officially announced the discovery in September 2026.
Initial Misidentification: Researchers initially assumed the slip was a 7th-century Egyptian text fragment, as several similar scraps existed in the collection. However, De Kreij, who teaches Greek, recognized the language and identified lines from Homer.
Age and Rarity: The parchment dates back to approximately 300 AD. It is considered an exceptionally rare archaeological find, with only about 30 comparable fragments known to exist worldwide.
Format and Origin: About the size of a playing card, the discolored, double-sided scrap is believed to have been part of an ancient “pocket edition” of the epic, likely owned by someone living in Egypt’s Faiyum Oasis.
The Text Passage: The lines are from Book 12 of “The Odyssey,” roughly halfway through the poem. The text describes the famous scene where Odysseus’s starving sailors slaughter and consume the sacred cattle belonging to the Sun god.