A 2,000-year-old Egyptian mummy has been found with a golden tongue. It is speculated that the tongue was added so the deceased could speak in the afterlife. To the ancient Egyptians, everlasting life could begin after death, which was very similar to life. But the deceased could only get there if they passed a series of tests, such as swearing before judges that they behaved well during their lifetime. And swearing requires a tongue.
The burial was one of 16 burials at Taposiris Magna, which has temples dedicated to the gods Osiris and Isis. Previously, archaeologists found a hoard of coins decorated with the face of Cleopatra VII, suggesting the temples were in use during the queen’s reign, or shortly afterwards when Egypt was incorporated into the Roman Empire.
