Archaeological excavations at the ancient city of El-Bahnasa (Oxyrhynchus) in Egypt have uncovered unusual mummies buried with tongues made of gold. Brought to light through a joint Spanish-Egyptian mission, these finds are considered highly significant because they offer rare insights into how ancient Egyptians imagined communication and self-defense before the gods in the afterlife.
Golden flesh of the gods and eloquence in the hereafter
In ancient Egyptian belief, gold was regarded as the flesh of the gods. Archaeologists note that placing golden tongues in the mouths of the deceased was likely intended to allow them to speak with Osiris, ruler of the underworld, and to defend themselves in the next world [2]. However, researchers also point out that not every gold object found in these tombs is necessarily a tongue. Some appear to have been crafted in the form of wheat ears, which are interpreted as symbols of fertility and abundance.
Similar rituals across different periods
The discovery of golden-tongued mummies is not limited to El-Bahnasa. Comparable burials have also been documented at the ancient cemetery of Qewaisna, north of Cairo, where mummies were likewise interred with tongues transformed into gold [3]. Dating between 300 BC and AD 640, these graves indicate that the golden tongue tradition was practiced in different periods and across a wide geographical area in Egypt [5]. Researchers think that, during mummification, the original tongues were removed and replaced with these thin gold plates.
Other enigmas of the ancient world
Among the week’s other notable archaeological developments are new claims based on the study of roughly 4,000-year-old skeletons of Egyptian princesses, suggesting these women may have received military training or taken part in hunting. In addition, discoveries such as a war chariot linked to a mysterious community that burned its own buildings and then disappeared, and a Bronze Age shaman long thought to be male but now understood to have been female, are once again fueling debates about the secrets of the past. For further context and additional reading, see [1].
Sources and further reading
- [1] Science news this week: Strange signals from space and Earth's leaking gold | Live Science
- [2] News - Ancient Egyptian Mummies Discovered in Oxyrhynchus - Archaeology Magazine
- [3] Archaeologists Have Discovered Mummies With Golden Tongues, Meant to Grant Them Eloquence, in an Ancient Cemetery Near Cairo | USA Art News
- [5] Archaeologists Discover Mummies with Gold Tongues in an Ancient Cemetery Near Cairo | USA Art News
Image & News Source: Live Science - Archaeology / livescience.com