Egypt is teeming with relics going back to antiquity. Several mummies with gold tongues were recently discovered at a location that has been explored for decades. While the exact cause is unknown, archaeologists believe it has something to do with the dead’s capacity to communicate once they’ve died.
Mummies were unearthed at an ancient cemetery in Quesna
The mummies, which are thought to date back to the Greco-Roman period, were discovered in Quesna, some 35 miles north of Cairo. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the find on Facebook on November 24, 2022, saying the mummies, some of which were in wooden coffins, were discovered in an expansion of the Qwaisana Archaeological Compound.
Necklaces and earthenware were among the items unearthed with the mummies. Gold objects shaped like lotus flowers and scarabs were also discovered. What’s most intriguing about this new find is that the mummies were discovered with gold tongues. Some had a gold coating on their bones, right beneath their linens.
The mummies, thought to be from the Greco-Roman period, were discovered in Quesna, some 35 miles north of Cairo. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities disclosed the mummies, some of which were in wooden coffins, were discovered in an expansion of the Qwaisana Archaeological Compound on November 24, 2022, through Facebook.
Necklaces and earthenware were unearthed among the mummies. There were also gold objects engraved in the shapes of lotus flowers and scarabs discovered. What makes this new find so intriguing is that the mummies were discovered with gold tongues. Some had a gold gloss on their bones, which was visible beneath their linens.
Other mummies have been discovered with gold tongues
The archaeological site at Quesna was found in 1989 and is regarded as one of the most significant in the Delta. Surprisingly, the freshly discovered mummies were not the first to be discovered with gold tongues.
Archaeologists excavating the 2,000-year-old burial site in 2021 discovered a skull with a tongue-shaped jewelry dangling from its lips. Archaeologists discovered three additional mummies with the same feature at the end of that year. A man, a woman, and a kid were discovered with gold-leaf tongues.
The freshly discovered mummies were discovered in an expansion of the original location. The Qwaisana Archaeological Compound is thought to have been utilized as a graveyard throughout history. Through the identification of diverse burial patterns, three unique historical periods have thus far been recognized.
The gold tongues may have allowed the dead to speak to Osiris
Archaeologists have postulated as to why the ancient Egyptians placed gold tongues in the mouths of the deceased due to such a unique burial tradition. Most people believe it has something to do with Osiris, the “Lord of Silence” who resided among the dead.
Because gold was thought to represent the flesh of the gods, the usage of gold-leaf eyes and tongues was most likely “manifestations of the deceased’s metamorphosis into celestial entities.” The ancient Egyptians may have believed that by inserting gold tongues into the mouths of the deceased, the mummies would be able to communicate with Osiris in the afterlife without making any noise.