It is common knowledge across archaeology and history that mummification was a common practice in ancient Egypt. However, just recently, archaeologists discovered a couple of Egyptian mummies that had golden tongues or golden chips that were placed right where their tongues were, according to Science Alert.
Mummies With Gold Tongues Spotted at the Ancient Necropolis Site
Newsweek notes that these remains were spotted at Quewisna when excavations on the ancient Egyptian necropolis were conducted. Having been located in 1989, this specific site has been perceived to be flourishing and full of life during the Roman and Ptolemaic eras.
The necropolis' extension is filled with tombs that can be traced back to different periods in the past, including the latter ancient Egyptian period (roughly 664 BC to 332 BC) and the Roman era (30 BC to 641 AD) and Ptolemaic time (332 BC to 30 BC).
These interesting remains were spotted by some researchers who were fulfilling archaeological tasks in Egypt. Such mummies were spotted with gold foil that was sculpted into a tongue's form and was placed right where the real tongue of the mummies should have been.
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First Time the Gold-Tongued Egyptian Mummies Were Spotted
Though this discovery is quite unusual and mysterious, it is not the first time archaeologists discovered gold tongues in ancient Egyptian remains.
For one, last February 2021, archaeologists were able to discover a gold-tongued mummy when digging through the Taposiris Magna temple, as reported by the New York Times. This prehistorically dates back to roughly 2,000 years before.
Aside from that, Newsweek also shares that another discovery of mummies with gold tongues was noted towards the end of 2021. In fact, researchers were able to sight three of these tongues within human mouth remains. These tongues reflected that of a child, woman, and man that died approximately 2,500 years before.
These remains were spotted at Oxyrhynchus, which is a significant archaeological spot that is around 100 miles southwest of Cairo.
Ancient Egypt and Fondness For Gold Tongues
According to Newsweek, Specialists presume that ancient Egyptians added these gold tongues so that the spirits of those who passed could communicate with the Egyptian god of the underworld, Osiris. They also think that this was done to help the deceased reach the afterlife.
Science Alert also notes that experts also think that this was done to get into Osiris' good side.
Osiris is similar to Hades for he also dwelled and lived among those who have died, as noted by Science Alert. He also imposed a stern regulation: speechlessness. Interestingly, ancient Egypt's underworld was also dubbed the Silent Land, and Osiris was also referred to as the Lord of Silence.
Science Alert notes the possibility that witht these gold tongues, mummies could communicate with Osiris in silence.
While these golden tongues can relay a message about ancient Egypt's rich traditions and culture, all that archaeologists can hear right now is silence, especially since these recently spotted mummies were reportedly in a bad condition.
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