More than a dozen mummies decorated with golden tongues and nails were found in 2000-year-old tombs in Egypt. Photo
A team of Egyptian and Spanish researchers has discovered more than a dozen ancient mummies decorated with golden tongues and nails. The unusual artifacts were found in 2000-year-old tombs in Egypt.
According to archaeologists, the tombs are decorated with colorful inscriptions and ritual scenes. Unique funerary objects were also found, Arkeonews reports.
According to the researchers, the latest mission was part of a ten-year project to study the archaeological site of Al-Bakhnas in the Egyptian governorate of Minya. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the findings as "a great addition to the history of the region," emphasizing their uniqueness to the Al-Bakhnasa area.
In total, the team of scientists found approximately 300 mummies and 52 wrapped remains dating back to the Ptolemaic era, the longest and last dynasty of ancient Egypt, which spanned 305-30 BC, DailyMail noted.
The team found approximately 300 mummies while exploring the tombs.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt
Among the most prominent local discoveries are 13 mummies that had golden tongues in their mouths, symbolizing preparation for the afterlife, experts say. Interestingly, one mummy had two golden tongues, and another had nails decorated with a gold plate.
Gold from the nails and tongues of mummies.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt
The presence of a thin layer of gold on the face of the mummy, depicted as if embalmed by the god Anubis, demonstrates the delicate nature of the funerary work. The figures of the goddesses Isis and Nephthys have the same golden decoration, archaeologists say.
In the same place, valuable items such as a terracotta of the god Harpocrates, amulets with images of Egyptian deities such as Thoth, Isis, and Horus, as well as a scarab heart were found, the archaeologists said.
During the excavations, the researchers also found other artifacts, such as a scarab heart, amulets, and figures of deities.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt
The head of the Spanish mission, Esther Ponce Mellado, explained that one of the tombs discovered contains a rectangular well that leads to a main room with three funerary chambers containing dozens of mummies. This indicates the practice of joint burial.
Another tomb shaft leads to similarly decorated chambers, one of which belonged to a man identified as "Wen Nefer." One of the walls depicts the tomb owner and his family making sacrifices to deities such as Anubis, Osiris, Atum, and Horus, the researchers noted.
One tomb was decorated with this depiction of the funeral boat of the god Auf Re.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt
According to archaeologists, during previous excavations, a Byzantine basilica, a temple dedicated to Osiris, and tombs from the Saitic, Greco-Roman, and Roman periods were found.
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