Ancient Egyptians Believed That These Newly Discovered Gold Tongues Allowed the Dead to Communicate in the Afterlife
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To prepare their loved ones for the afterlife, ancient Egyptians sometimes placed tongue-shaped pieces of gold foil in the mouths of the deceased. Prized as the “flesh of the gods,” this precious metal was believed to lend the dead a voice as they prepared to face the judgment of the god Osiris, who could either grant a petitioner entry to the afterlife or condemn their soul to eternal darkness.
Reported by 1 outlet — Smithsonian. See all sources ↓
To prepare their loved ones for the afterlife, ancient Egyptians sometimes placed tongue-shaped pieces of gold foil in the mouths of the deceased. Prized as the “flesh of the gods,” this precious metal was believed to lend the dead a voice as they prepared to face the judgment of the god Osiris, who could either grant a petitioner entry to the afterlife or condemn their soul to eternal darkness. Excavations at Marina el-Alamein, an archaeological site just over 60 miles west of the ancient Egyptian capital, Alexandria, have revealed about two dozen of these gold tongues. According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, one of the objects is shaped like the Eye of Horus, a symbol associated with healing and protection.
Read the full report at Smithsonian ↗
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- To prepare their loved ones for the afterlife, ancient Egyptians sometimes placed tongue-shaped pieces of gold foil in the mouths of the deceased. Prized as the “flesh of the gods,” this precious metal was believed to lend the dead a voice as they prepared to face the judgment of the god Osiris, who could either grant a petitioner entry to the afterlife or condemn their soul to eternal darkness.
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Ancient Egyptians Believed That These Newly Discovered Gold Tongues Allowed the Dead to Communicate in the Afterlife
Sources1TypeCoverageSmithsonian