Was there really a female king in ancient Egypt 5,000 years ago? New study says yes
Meretneith was buried in a tomb fit for a male ruler. But for decades, debate has raged over her true royal status.
In ancient Egypt, more than 5,000 years ago, a woman named Meretneith—also spelled Merneith—might have ruled as a female king. She was likely the daughter of Djer, the third king of the First Dynasty. Meretneith's exact royal status has been unclear, but her tomb complex contained riches typically associated with male rulers, suggesting she ruled the country. However, determining whether she ruled Egypt independently has been disputed.
Researchers, using a new digital technique published in Prague Egyptological Studies, examined a hieroglyphic inscription on a mud stopper. The inscription, originally found in Saqqara in the 1940s, appears to confirm Meretneith's role as one of the early rulers of Egypt. The mud stopper's inscription consists of four royal signs, with the second and third serekhs indicating Meretneith's name, aligning with the primary mark used for rulers during the First Dynasty.
This suggests she was a female king, not just a queen, and the second recorded female ruler of ancient Egypt whose name was inscribed in the royal serekh emblem.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
