2,300-Year-Old Homer's 'Odyssey' Papyrus Fragment on View at The Met
A fragment of papyrus, dating back 2,300 years and featuring sections of Homer's Odyssey, is currently on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This piece, which was rediscovered from storage on August 5, can be found in Gallery 162. Séan Hemingway, the curator overseeing Greek and Roman art, referred to it in a video as "the earliest preserved fragment of Homer's Odyssey that we have today." The museum likened the fragment's journey to that of Odysseus, although noted that the subway trip to the Upper East Side is significantly simpler. The Met unveiled this significant artifact this week, emphasizing its importance for both classical scholarship and museum-goers.
Key facts
- The papyrus fragment is 2,300 years old.
- It contains parts of Homer's Odyssey.
- It is now on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- The fragment went on display on August 5.
- It is located in Gallery 162 at The Met.
- Séan Hemingway is the curator in charge of Greek and Roman art.
- Hemingway called it the earliest preserved fragment of the Odyssey.
- The announcement was made this week by The Met.
Entities
Artists
- Homer
Institutions
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
Locations
- New York
- United States