An exhibit of written versions of Homer's epic story over the centuries
The text above is one of the earliest known surviving versions of the Odyssey. Written on papyrus, it is reputed to have originated in Egypt during the 2nd or 3rd centuries BCE. This coincides with the flourishing of the great Library of Alexandria. Scholars believe that the scribes of Alexandria were producing numerous copies of Homer's work during this time. In fact, over 1,000 manuscripts related to Homer's work exist. This number far exceeds that of many other classical writers from the same period. Unfortunately, we do not know exactly what prompted these ancient scribes to take such an interest in Homer's work. The Library of Alexandria was burned during the Roman Civil Wars of 48 BCE and suffered a slow decline until the early 3rd century CE, when it finally closed its doors.