In a rather unique archaeological discovery, mummies with golden tongues have been found in an ancient Egyptian burial ground! According to media reports, archeologists from the University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic have discovered 16 new burial shafts inside the old Taposiris Magna Temple, a historical landmark in Egypt.
A team of archaeologists, led by Dr. Kathleen Martinez, has been working for years trying to discover intriguing clues to Egypt’s past. Till now, they have discovered mummies of high status individuals, which could provide some important clues about the whereabouts of Cleopatra’s tomb. According to CNN reports, the newly discovered mummies from the Greek and Roman eras were in poor condition, but were found with some interesting objects.
A Facebook post by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities mentions that “researchers found amulets of gold foil in the form of a tongue that were placed in the mouth of the mummy.” The post further reads that “the golden tongues were a special ritual to ensure their ability to speak in the after life before the Osirian court.”
The archaeologists have found two specific mummies, which are special for several reasons. One was buried with “the remains of scrolls and parts of the cartonnage,” which is an honorable decoration of the god Osiris. And the second had a crown decorated with horns and cobra on its forehead along with a necklace and a falcon’s head-shaped pendant, the symbol for the god Horus.
These are some truly fascinating findings, which prove that the mission to excavate Taposiris Magna Temple is a key to enter the world of ancient Egypt.