Historical story

Egypt:Archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old mummy with a golden tongue

A unique discovery was made by archaeologists in Egypt and, specifically, in the ancient city of Taposiris Magna (Taposiris Magna), near the current site of Abusir.

In particular, according to Businessinsider.com, 16 tombs containing 2,000-year-old mummies were discovered, with one of them standing out, as it was buried with a golden tongue in its mouth.

The gold tongue-shaped charms that embalmers placed on mummies were considered highly prized and had a special purpose. Golden tongues were placed on mummies so that the dead could speak to the gods, such as Osiris - lord of the Egyptian underworld - during the afterlife.


The official announcement from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said that the golden mummy was found among countless others recently discovered in Alexandria. He also said the mummies were "in a state of poor preservation", adding that this was typical of mummification during the Greek and Roman periods.

Also, in the joint mission of Egyptian and Dominican archaeologists, it was reported that 16 rock-cut tombs were found under the temple.

It is worth noting that the mummy with the gilded tongue was not the only remarkable find of the excavation.

According to Dominican archaeologist Kathleen Martínez, who led the expedition, two of the most important mummies the team found were buried with decorative cardboard, a material made of papyrus and linen that the Egyptians used to enclose mummies from head to toe. .

The mummy's panel depicted Osiris, while the other was decorated with a wreath of horns, a cobra snake on his forehead, and a necklace with a falcon's head, symbolizing Horus, the Egyptian sun god.

The two mummies were also buried with some scrolls, which are now being deciphered.

Also, another mummy was found wearing a death mask, with holes for the eyes. Death masks protected the dead in the afterlife and helped their spirits return to their bodies.

Khaled Abo El Hamd, director general of Alexandria's antiquities ministry, said the expedition also discovered eight marble heads dating back to the Greek and Roman eras.

The carvings on the tombs may have depicted the person who died.

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