Archaeologists in El-Bahnasa, Egypt have found Roman-era mummies with golden tongues and a rare Iliad papyrus, a ritual find meant to help the dead speak to the gods
Egyptian explorers have been left stunned after stumbling upon a city of the dead containing mummies with shimmering golden tongues. The spine-tingling find was made in the historic El-Bahnasa region of Minya, located roughly 120 miles south of Cairo.
The area is a well-known hotspot for spiritual and archaeological wonders, but the latest haul has left experts breathless. Archaeologists excavating the site discovered several remains dating back to the Roman era.
While the mummies were found tucked away in wooden coffins and wrapped in intricate geometric linen, it was what lay inside their mouths that caused a stir. Experts recovered three golden tongues and one copper tongue from inside the ancient skulls.
According to researchers, the precious metal implants were part of a sacred ritual designed to ensure the deceased could navigate the afterlife.
It was believed that a golden tongue would allow the dead to speak with the gods, specifically Osiris, the Lord of the Underworld.
The team, led by scientists from the University of Barcelona and the Institute of the Ancient Near East, also uncovered a series of stunning artefacts during the excavation.
Among the most striking finds were several mummies featuring faces entirely plated in shimmering gold leaf to create radiant golden head masks.
They also discovered a rare papyrus scroll tucked inside a mummy which contained verses from Book II of Homer’s Iliad.
Additionally, the bodies were wrapped in traditional geometric shrouds, consisting of linen wrappings decorated with complex and colourful patterns.
The discovery sheds new light on the funeral rites of the Greco-Roman civilisation, which held sway over the region more than 1,300 years ago.
Celebrating the breakthrough, Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said the finds reveal more about the richness and diversity of Egyptian civilisation.
While the silent mummies have finally been given their voices back via the golden relics, archaeologists believe there are many more secrets still buried beneath the sands of El-Bahnasa.
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By staronline@reachplc.com (Liam Randall)
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