More on the Egyptian mummy's Iliad excerpt

OXYRHYNCHUS WATCH: The mummy, the Iliad, and a mysterious death ritual. Archaeologists in Egypt unearthed a sealed packet of the epic poem resting atop a Roman-era mummy, suggesting they may have been used as a magical ward for the afterlife (Taylor Mitchell Brown, National Geographic).

[Professor Serena Perone] agrees that ritualistic use is one possible interpretation.

“Several literary sources mention incantations utilizing Homeric verses for protective or healing purposes,” she says. But in those instances, the texts cited specific lines, not “extensive passages” like an excerpt from the Catalogue of Ships as found atop the Oxyrhynchus mummy.

That sounds about right. One Greco-Egyptian incantation (PGM VII.1-148) consists just of a long list of unconnected lines from Homer. It calls itself "the Homer oracle."And there are other examples using just one or a few lines; notably PGM IV.2145-2240, which quotes three Homeric lines with instructions for using them as a spell inscribed on an iron lamella.

That said, an extended passage from the Catalogue of Ships does not seem like a good candidate for a ritual incantation. But the passage was excerpted and buried with the deceased for some reason. I suspect that our imagination is what is limiting us here. If we do find the reason, it will seem obvious in hindsight.

Background here.

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