Archaeologists have unearthed several ancient Egyptian tombs containing dozens of mummies – some of which were found with golden tongues and nails – among other remarkable artifacts.
A joint Egyptian-Spanish mission made discoveries in the Al-Bahnasa archaeological area in Minya Governorate, which is home to the remains of the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement.
Oxyrhynchus was a major settlement during the Greco-Roman period of ancient Egypt, which lasted hundreds of years from the end of the fourth century BC to the seventh century. The graves the team recently identified date specifically to the Ptolemaic period.
The Ptolemaic dynasty was a royal family of Macedonian Greek origin that ruled Egypt after the conquest of the territory by Alexander the Great. Founded in 305 BC, the dynasty lasted until Rome defeated and annexed the kingdom in 30 BC.
Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Some of the mummies discovered recently in Ptolemaic era tombs have been found with pieces of gold shaped into the shape of a human tongue. Such gold tongues have previously been found in Oxyrhynchus and other archaeological sites in Egypt, although these are relatively rare finds.
Experts believe that the ancient Egyptians may have placed tongues of gold on some human remains in the belief that they would allow the spirits of the deceased to communicate with Osiris – the god of the underworld – and help them pass into the afterlife.
In the past, it is the first of its kind in the region of Al-Bhansa, Al-Bhansa, Al-Maniya – finding a group of people from Al-Lusna, Al-Azafer, Al-Muhammad, inside the tombs of Al-Batlam era – finding the tombstones of Al-Alam al-Jad…
Gold nails have also been found in Egyptian archaeological contexts, although they are relatively rare. The purpose of these artifacts may also have been linked to the Egyptian belief in the protective properties of gold.
During its excavations, the archaeological mission identified colorful inscriptions and inscriptions in the tombs, as well as texts and ritual scenes of various goddesses, which appear for the first time in the Al-Bahnasa area.
In addition to the golden tongues and nails, the researchers discovered a number of other artifacts – including several amulets and idols of deities such as Horus, Isis and Osiris.
Some of the amulets are shaped like scarabs, which were believed to have magical properties in ancient Egypt. One of the mummies was even found with a heart scarab. It was a scarab-shaped amulet placed where the heart of the deceased once was.
