It was a big surprise when mummies with golden tongues were unearthed in an ancient cemetery during an excavation in Egypt. The fact that most of the mummies were destroyed made experts deeply saddened. However, further investigation showed that there was a specific reason why the tongues of the dead were ripped out and replaced with golden tongues.
This interesting archaeological discovery, which contributes to the historical riches of Egypt, took place in the Quweisna necropolis in the Nile Delta. This special archaeological site, discovered in 1989, sheds light on the deep history of Egypt. It bears traces of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, which are thought to date from 300 BC to 640 AD. However, the most striking aspect of this discovery is that this archaeological site where the golden-tongued mummies were found was a large cemetery complex where many bodies from different periods were buried.
The Purpose of Having a Golden Tongue in Mummies
During excavations, many mummies decorated with golden tongues were found. The purpose of this practice is to enable the dead to communicate in the afterlife. It is believed that the real tongues of the dead are removed and replaced with golden tongues. In this way, the dead can communicate with the god Osiris in the afterlife. Osiris is considered the “Lord of the Underworld” and judge of the dead in Ancient Egyptian mythology.
This interesting discovery is an indication that similar burial practices were previously carried out in Egypt. Particularly in 2021, similar finds were found in sites such as the temple of Taposiris Magna in Alexandria or the archaeological site of Oxyrhynchus. There are also suspicions that the tomb of Cleopatra, one of Egypt’s famous queens, may be located in the same area.
However, this fascinating discovery also came with some disappointments. The condition of the mummies was quite poor and some of the tongues appeared to have been completely fragmented. According to experts, there are people from three different levels in the cemetery campus and it seems that they are ranked according to these levels.
However, researchers noted that many mummies were covered with thin sheets of gold and placed in wooden coffins. This impressive discovery is not limited to golden-tongued mummies; Gold chips designed in the shape of cockroaches and lotus flowers were also found next to the graves. Additionally, funerary decorations, stones with animal figures and pottery pieces thought to have been used in the mummification process were also found.
Ayman Ashmawi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said that the necropolis in Quweisna belongs to different periods and that early research in this area reveals these different periods. This discovery brings a new perspective to Egypt’s rich history and ancient past. Archaeologists working behind these impressive discoveries also found a 2,000-year-old mummy with a golden tongue in an ancient settlement called Taposiris Magna in Egypt.
Ultimately, these discoveries help us understand Egypt’s rich history even more deeply and shed light on the mysterious rituals and practices of ancient times. These areas, where research and analysis continues, may be full of more information and secrets.
