{"id":22604,"date":"2026-09-29T23:46:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T23:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/29\/1700-year-old-greek-poem-found-in-egyptian-tomb-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T23:46:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T23:46:52","slug":"1700-year-old-greek-poem-found-in-egyptian-tomb-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/29\/1700-year-old-greek-poem-found-in-egyptian-tomb-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"1,700-Year-Old Greek Poem Found in Egyptian Tomb \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Archaeologists have opened a 1,700-year-old tomb in Egypt\u2019s western desert that carries a long poem in ancient Greek.<\/h3>\n

The limestone, pyramid-shaped tomb was built for an important man and his wife. The Egyptian mission found a stone plaque in Greek, a table for the dead, a sandstone washing basin, pottery and a bronze coin with the head of the emperor Constantine \u2014 a sign the tomb was used again later.<\/p>\n

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi said the mix of finds shows how cultures stacked up in Egypt. Hisham al-Lithi, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said they also show Roman-era burial practice in the oasis country of the New Valley.<\/p>\n

\"Archaeological <\/source><\/picture>
Archaeological site in Egypt\u2019s New Valley (Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities)
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A staircase of 14 steps leads to a stone doorway with Egyptian-style carving and hieroglyphs. Above the entrance is a scene from the Amduat<\/em>, the book of Ra\u2019s night journey through the underworld, plus spells meant to guard the dead. Inside, a plastered hall opens to two burials.<\/p>\n

On the wall is a monumental plaque with a 19-line mourning poem<\/strong> for a man named Bisichthes<\/strong>. The verses call him an \u201cadvisor in life\u201d and praise his wisdom. Researchers think he was a judge in the late third or early fourth century AD.<\/p>\n

The last lines, first reported by Live Science<\/em>, are spoken by his son Sarapion<\/strong>: \u201cListen, father!\u201d He asks him to take the offerings of his grieving children.<\/p>\n

\"Archaeological <\/source><\/picture>
Archaeological site in Egypt\u2019s New Valley (Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities)
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Greek had been Egypt\u2019s language of office and culture since Alexander in 332 BC and stayed so after Rome took the country in 30 BC. Hieroglyphs, the Amduat<\/em> and a Greek lament in one tomb show how mixed the Western Desert was under Rome.<\/p>\n

The ministry has not said whether human remains were found.<\/p>\n

Source: Vishwam Sankaran, The Independent \/ Yahoo, 29 September 2026; Live Science on the closing lines.<\/em><\/p>\n