The Metropolitan Museum of Art is now home to a fragment of history, or rather, a piece of the Odyssey. Dating back 2,300 years and containing three lines from Book 20 that modern texts lack, this papyrus is indeed a rare find. Visitors to the Upper East Side can catch a glimpse of these ancient words in Gallery 162, starting August 5.

The curator in charge, Séan Hemingway, has described it as 'the earliest preserved fragment of Homer’s Odyssey we have today.' This means that for anyone interested in the origins and evolution of literature, this object is a treasure trove. Who knew Odysseus's adventures could be so text-dependent?

Indeed, the journey to see these words – via the 6 train or on foot – might seem minor compared to Odysseus’s perils, but for history buffs and literary enthusiasts, it’s a step closer to immersing oneself in literature’s past. The fragment serves as an intriguing reminder of how we piece together our understanding of ancient texts.

So if you’re ever near the Met, make sure to take this opportunity to explore what time has kept alive for us. After all, every line holds a story – or rather, several tales waiting to be unraveled by your curiosity.