An unusual find at Al-Bahnasa in Upper Egypt shocked archaeologists. The mummies of a woman and a man had golden tongues. But this is not the first such discovery.
In the town of Al-Bahnasa in Upper Egypt, archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2,500-year-old man and woman. Scientists - members of a Spanish research expedition from the University of Barcelona - were surprised to learn that mummies have tongues made of gold. The tomb in which they were found dates from the period of the XXVI dynasty (the so-called Sait dynasty), ruling in the years 664-525 BCE. The personalities of the "tenants" of the tomb are not known yet, although they were probably married during their lifetime. "We are still examining the inscriptions on the sarcophagi that we believe will reveal the identity of the people buried in them," reported Maite Mascort, one of the archaeological mission managers, in La Vanguardia .
An unusual find
The remains rested in limestone sarcophagi placed next to each other, the tomb is located in the ancient city of Oxyrinchos. The site has been investigated by archaeologists for over a hundred years and continues to provide science with new discoveries . Among other things, a huge collection of papyri has been found here - including a writing that belongs to the New Testament apocrypha.
As many as 402 funerary ushabti figurines made of earthenware and glazed ceramics were found in the tomb.
Unfortunately, the sarcophagus occupied by the woman was plundered in ancient times. Remarkably, the man's resting place was left intact. " There is not often a tomb that remains sealed until today ”- she emphasized in The National one of the researchers, Esther Pons Mellado. According to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, the golden amulet tongues were to enable a conversation with Osiris in the afterlife. Records about the golden foil placed in the mouth of the deceased can be found, among others, in the Book of the Dead. We learn from it that people leaving for the afterlife could breathe, talk and eat thanks to it.
Many valuable remains of an ancient civilization were also found in the tomb - four canopy urns for storing entrails and amulets depicting scarabs, beads and as many as 402 funerary ushabti figurines made of faience and glazed ceramics. The statuettes, equipped with miniature hoes and sacks, were supposed to release the tomb owner from working in the afterlife.
Members of the Spanish research expedition from the University of Barcelona were surprised to find that mummies have tongues made of gold.
Not the first such discovery
In January 2021, scientists already found mummies with golden tongues - on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the site of Taposiris Magna. They are five hundred years younger than the dead of Al-Bahnasa. Interestingly, out of the sixteen mummies discovered then, only two had golden tongues. Why? There are several theories about this. Most likely, many people simply could not afford such an expensive amulet. It is also possible that it was bought only by those who feared that they would have to explain themselves to Osiris. It is also possible that a large proportion of the golden languages have been stolen.
Bibliography:
- Egypt. Two mummies with golden tongues discovered, Polskie Radio, (accessed on 4 January 2022).
- Gershon, L., Mummies With Gold Tongues Found Inside 2500-Year-Old Tombs in Egypt, Smithsonian Magazine (accessed 4/1/2022).
- Grzelak, K., They died with golden tongues. Scientists are investigating where the mysterious Egyptian ritual came from, Focus (access:4/1/2022).