Egypt announces the discovery of a Roman tomb containing mummies and golden tongues

Discovery of a rare Roman tomb in Minya reveals secrets of funerary rituals

A Spanish archaeological mission from the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies has uncovered a new Roman tomb in the Bahnasah area of Minya Governorate in Egypt, in a discovery that highlights the features of funerary rituals during the Greek and Roman periods.

Finding decorated mummies and golden tongues inside the tomb

The excavations resulted in the discovery of several Roman mummies, some of which were distinguished by geometric decorations, in addition to wooden coffins, three golden tongues, and one copper tongue, as well as evidence indicating the use of gold leaf on some mummies.

Official praise for the discovery and its importance to Egyptian civilization

The Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, expressed his happiness with this discovery, confirming that it represents a new addition to the series of important archaeological discoveries in Minya Governorate, reflecting the richness and diversity of Egyptian civilization throughout the ages.

The discovery provides new insights into ancient burial practices

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, explained that this discovery provides new and important information about funerary practices in the Bahnasah area during the Greek and Roman periods.

Finding a rare papyrus from the Iliad inside one of the mummies

The mission also managed to find a rare papyrus inside one of the mummies, containing text from the second book of the epic "Iliad" by the poet Homer, known as "The Catalogue of Ships," which is considered a discovery of significant historical and literary value.

Details of the discovery of stone chambers and human and animal remains

The head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mohamed Abdel Badi, clarified that the excavations east of the Ptolemaic tomb No. 67, discovered during the 2024 season, revealed a trench containing three limestone chambers, of which only limited parts remain.

In the first chamber, a stone slab and a large jar containing the burnt remains of an adult, along with the bones of an infant, and the head of a feline wrapped in pieces of fabric were found.

As for the second chamber, it contained a similar jar with the remains of two burnt individuals, along with bones of the same type of animal.

Discovery of ancient statues south of the site belonging to old deities

In the southern part of the site, the mission found small statues made of terracotta and bronze, including statues of the deity Harpocrates in the form of a knight, along with a small statue of the god Cupid.

Finding an underground tomb despite previous looting

The director of the mission's excavations and a professor of archaeology at Cairo University, Dr. Hassan Amer, pointed out that the excavations in tomb No. 65 resulted in the discovery of golden and copper tongues, Roman mummies, and colored wooden coffins inside an underground burial chamber (hypogeum), despite its deteriorated condition due to previous looting in ancient times.