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 Rare Greek Poetry Scroll Found in Egyptian Mummy

 

 

A second century Egyptian mummy that belongs to an unnamed  private collection (possibly in Italy) has provided literary scholars with a rare treat: the oldest example of a Greek poetry book.

Details about the mummy itself have not been provided. Apparently, though, the papyrus scroll was wrapped with the body (some mummies of the same time period were wrapped in papyrus as well, but this does not seem to have been the case). The scroll has been examined by researchers at the University of Milan; their findings will be discussed in depth at a November conference at the University of Cincinnati.

The scroll contains 112 epigrams (i.e., short poems) written by the Greek poet Posidippus in the 3rd Century B.C. Two of the epigrams had previously been found in other classical texts (and attributed to Posidippus).

The scroll is important for its substantial length, its excellent preservation, and the poems' content (they discuss many aspects of daily life during the rein of the Ptolemies). For example, the epigrams discuss omens, shipwrecks, dedications, and equestrian victories at sporting events.

 

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Source: Nationalgeographic.com (10/28/02)

 

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