A striking discovery has emerged from the sands of Al-Bahansa, Egypt, where archaeologists uncovered 13 golden tongues and nails inside tombs from the Greco-Roman period, older than 2,000 years. These rare and shiny artifacts, alongside other treasures like mummies and coffins, have sparked excitement among experts, revealing fascinating details about ancient Egyptian burial practices.
Why Gold Was So Important to the Egyptians
Gold wasn’t just a fancy material for the ancient Egyptians, it was believed to be the flesh of the gods—immortal and indestructible. It’s not just a symbol of wealth, but of eternity itself. The Egyptians viewed gold as a divine substance that could ensure the deceased’s preservation in the afterlife, guarding their soul and body against decay.
“For the Egyptians, gold was a material that had qualities of everlastingness,” said Jennifer Houser Wegner, a curator of Egyptian artifacts at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia. “It never tarnished. It always shone brilliantly.”
This belief was so deeply ingrained that gold was used lavishly in tombs, especially for the elite, who were thought to require extra care to navigate their way through the afterlife. In the case of the golden tongues, these items were believed to help the deceased communicate with the gods, most notably Osiris, the god of the underworld.
“That these mummies have golden tongues is fascinating,” noted Dr. Kathleen Martinez, Dominican archaeologist. “Very little information has remained about the Greco-Roman period in Alexandria. The discoveries we have found in this necropolis are not only extraordinary, but they also indicate that there are more secrets to reveal.”
The Rare Use of Golden Nails
While golden tongues are a more well-known funerary artifact, golden nails are a much rarer find. According to a translated statement posted by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on Facebook, these nails, which were placed on the fingers and toes of the mummies, were thought to protect the deceased. As The New York Times points out, these golden nails had a protective function, shielding the deceased from evil forces and helping preserve the integrity of the body in the afterlife.
The use of gold to encase fingers and toes isn’t entirely new, other finds have turned up similar practices, but the combination of golden tongues and nails at this site is particularly striking. These discoveries speak to the level of care taken in the embalming process and the strong belief in magical protection. Gold, with its otherworldly glow, was seen as an armor, safeguarding the body from corruption and ensuring the soul’s safe passage.
