An extraordinary archaeological discovery has been made in Egypt's Minya Governorate, where a Roman-era tomb containing mummies with golden tongues has been unearthed at the historic site of Al-Bahnasa. The find, made by an Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission from the University of Barcelona and the Institute of the Ancient Near East, offers unprecedented insights into the funerary practices of the Greco-Roman period. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery on April 18, 2026, describing it as a major addition to the country's rich archaeological heritage.
The excavations were led by Maite Mascort Roca and Esther Pons Mellado have revealed a tomb housing several Roman mummies. Many were wrapped in linen intricately decorated with geometric patterns and placed alongside wooden coffins.
Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the excavation was the discovery of a rare papyrus inside one of the mummies. According to Field Director Hassan Ibrahim Amer, the papyrus contains a passage from Book II of Homer's Iliad, specifically the section known as the "Catalogue of Ships," which describes the Greek forces that participated in the Trojan War. The presence of this literary masterpiece within a burial context adds a unique cultural and historical dimension to the site, underscoring the profound Greek influence in Al-Bahnasa during the Roman period.
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/roman-era-tomb-minya-00102711
