Archaeologists in Egypt uncover 2,000-year-old mummy with gold tongue

A 2,000-year-old, gold-tongued mummy has been uncovered amid a dig in northern Egypt, according to reports.

The mummy was among 16 burials uncovered in poorly preserved rock-cut tombs at the temple of Taposiris Magna, west of Alexandria, and is an example of burial practices during the country’s Greco-Roman period, the Daily News Egypt newspaper reported.

The ancient Egyptians would have given the mummy a gold tongue during a ritual to help him speak to Osiris, the god of the underworld, in the afterlife, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement.

Archaeologists in Egypt uncover 2,000-year-old mummy with a gold tongue.

The gold foil amulet was just one of several important finds during the dig.

The team of Dominican and Egyptian archaeologists also found two mummies wrapped in gilded cartonnage, which is plastered layers of papyrus or linen, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

One of the two mummies had a crown decorated with horns and a cobra on its forehead. Its chest had a gilded decoration in the shape of a necklace with a falcon’s head pendant, the symbol of the god Horus. The other mummy was adorned with gilded decorations depicting Osiris.

Lead archaeologist Kathleen Martinez of the University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic called those two mummies among the most important finds of the excavation, the ministry said.

Other significant finds the team has discovered recently include a funeral mask for a woman, eight golden flakes representing the leaves of a golden wreath, and eight masks of marble dating back to the Greek and Roman eras.

Ajabu Africa News

“These masks show high craftsmanship in Sculpture and depiction of the features of its owners,” said Khaled Abo El Hamd, director general of The Alexandria Antiquities, according to the ministry.

In the last 10 years, the team has also made other important discoveries at the temple site, such as coins with the image of Cleopatra, who ruled Egypt from 51 to 30 BCE, and the temple’s foundation panels that revealed it was built by King Ptolemy IV, who ruled from 221 to 204 BCE, the Daily News reported. 

The city of Taposiris Magna was founded between 280 and 270 BCE by Ptolemy II. His father, Ptolemy I, was a general to Alexander the Great.

Related Posts

Reconstructing the Revered Physiognomy of Egypt’s Legendary Ruler, Ramses II

The Rise of a Legend From Prince to Pharaoh In the golden age of ancient Egypt, a young prince named Ramesses II ascended to the throne, forever…

Unveiling the Mysteries of the Treasury of Atreus: A Glimpse into Mycenaean Grandeur

The Hidden Gem of Ancient Greece In the heart of Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies a testament to the ingenuity and grandeur of ancient Greek…

The Eternal Embrace: Unearthing the 6,000-Year-Old Love Story of Valdaro’s Neolithic Romeo and Juliet

A Remarkable Neolithic Discovery In 2007, archaeologists made an extraordinary find in a Neolithic tomb near Mantua, Italy. Inside lay the skeletons of two young lovers, around…

Eight Ancient Egyptian mummies that lived 3,000 years ago are discovered in the same pyramid as King AmenH๏τh II who brought peace between Egypt and Mitanni

Archeologists have uncovered eight mummies dating back to the era of the pharaohs in an exciting new discovery that continues to reveal the hidden treasures of Ancient…

King Tutankhamun’s Tomb: Unveiling a Century of Secrets

November 4, 2022 marked the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter. The event propelled the once obscure boy king to…

Discovering Maresha: An Examination of the Polish Cave’s Historical Importance and Its Links to Ancient Israel

In the rolling Judean Lowlands of Israel lies an archaeological marvel that bridges millennia of human history. The ancient city of Maresha, with its intricate network of…