# 1,700-year-old Homer fragment found in library book

> A Greek teacher at a Dutch university discovered an ancient scrap of the Odyssey hidden in a medieval manuscript.
- Title: 1,700-year-old Homer fragment found in library book · CBS News
- Summary: A Greek teacher at a Dutch university discovered an ancient scrap of the Odyssey hidden in a medieval manuscript. Dr. Mark de Kreij found a fragment of…
- Keywords: mark de kreij, radboud university, utrecht university, homer odyssey, ancient manuscripts, greece, netherlands, news, 700-year-old, Homer, fragment, found
- Source: CBS News — https://cbsnews.com/news/odyssey-fragment-found-library-netherlands-utrecht
- Author: Kerry  Breen
- Published: 2026-09-17T13:22:26+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mark de kreij, radboud university, utrecht university, homer odyssey, ancient manuscripts, greece, netherlands, news
## Greek teacher finds ancient treasure
Dr. Mark de Kreij of Radboud University discovered a fragment of Homer's Odyssey sandwiched between pages of a library book at Utrecht University.
## Hidden in a medieval manuscript
De Kreij found the tiny slip of paper while studying early Christian manuscripts purchased by Utrecht University in the mid-twentieth century. He made the discovery about two years ago.
## Recognized the ancient Greek text
De Kreij, a Greek teacher, recognized the language on the paper and identified it as part of the Odyssey. Researchers dated the fragment to around three hundred AD.

> Everyone who learns Greek learns Homer.
## One of only thirty known fragments
Only about thirty such fragments of the Odyssey exist worldwide. The piece came from a pocket edition owned by someone living in Egypt's Faiyum oasis, about the size of a playing card.
## From a dramatic moment in the poem
The fragment is from book twelve, where Odysseus describes starving sailors eating sacred cattle of Apollo. De Kreij noted it is a particularly engaging passage.

> There are so many boring parts in the Odyssey. This happens to be a really fun passage.
## A treasure hunter's greatest find
De Kreij told Dutch media he has the best job in the world as a treasure hunter. This fragment ranks among his most significant discoveries.

> I have the best job in the world. I am a treasure hunter. Every day you find something nice. This is one of them.
## Key takeaway

Dr. Mark de Kreij found a fragment of Homer's Odyssey dating to around three hundred AD tucked between pages of a book at Utrecht University, one of only about thirty such fragments known to exist.