1,700-year-old ‘Odyssey’ fragment found in book

A 1,700-year-old fragment of Homer's "The Odyssey" was discovered by Greek literature expert Mark de Kreij in a Dutch university library. The tiny parchment, measuring 2.6 by 3 inches, was found tucked inside a collection of early Christian manuscripts and showed signs of age, including water stains and discoloration. The fragment contains a dramatic episode from the epic, concerning Helios, the Greek sun god, and his sacred cattle, which were killed and eaten by Odysseus' sailors despite warnings from Circe, the sorceress.

The discovery of this ancient fragment is significant because it adds to the limited number of surviving fragments of "The Odyssey," with only around 30 fragments discovered to date.

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