Rare 1,700-year-old papyrus fragment of the Odyssey discovered in Utrecht

Researchers have identified a rare, 1,700-year-old parchment fragment of Homer’s Odyssey within the archives of the Utrecht University Library in the Netherlands. The piece, measuring 6.6 by 7.7 centimeters and cataloged as Utrecht Gr. Ms. B6.39a, was discovered by Dr. Mark de Kreij of Radboud University while he was cataloging ancient Egyptian collections. Although it had been misidentified for decades as an insignificant 7th-century scrap, closer examination revealed dense Greek handwriting dating back to the 3rd or 4th century AD.

The fragment contains verses from the 12th rhapsody of the epic, detailing the pivotal moment when Odysseus’s crew slaughters the sacred cattle of the sun god Helios. This transgression leads to a divine punishment where Zeus destroys their ship, killing the entire crew. Experts emphasize the rarity of the find, as only about 30 such fragments of the Odyssey have been documented to date. The parchment was found in poor condition, featuring water damage and discoloration, but remains a vital piece of evidence regarding the popularity of Homeric epics in late antiquity.

The discovery is being hailed as a significant milestone in classical studies. The research project, aimed at publishing ancient manuscripts from the university’s special collections, is ongoing, and the fragment is now subject to further analysis.