Ancient Egyptian Princesses Trained with Weapons, New Study Reveals

Ancient Egyptian princesses may have engaged in rigorous weapon training throughout their lives, according to a groundbreaking new study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. The research, led by Dr. Zeinab Hashesh, provides fresh insights into the lives of royal women during Egypt's Middle Kingdom period.

The study focused on five mummies of royal women buried with weapons, including bows and arrows, which were traditionally seen as symbols rather than practical tools. However, detailed analysis of the princesses' skeletal remains now suggests these weapons had a more tangible purpose. The researchers discovered that the musculature in the upper limbs of these women indicates they regularly engaged in activities requiring significant physical exertion.

Dr. Hashesh and her team examined mummies from the Dahshur necropolis near Cairo, where Jacques de Morgan first excavated in 1894. Among the remains were those of King Hor and Princess Noub-Hotep, as well as four daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II: Ita, Khenmet, Itaweret, and Sathathormeryt. These mummies had been transferred to the Egyptian Museum in 1915 but were rediscovered only recently in 2020.

The findings reveal that these princesses led physically demanding lives, characterized by activities such as archery and hunting. The musculature of their upper bodies suggests they frequently used weapons like bows and arrows, which are typically associated with men. For instance, Princess Ita, aged between 28 and 34 at death, showed robust muscle attachments indicative of habitual weapon use.

Princess Khenmet, in her late 30s or early 40s, also exhibited strong ligament attachments despite signs of osteoporosis, suggesting she maintained a physically active lifestyle until later in life. Similarly, Princess Itaweret, who was between 20 and 34 years old, demonstrated the marks of an accomplished archer on her skeletal remains.

The researchers noted that while the mummification techniques used were relatively crude compared to those employed in later periods, enough skeletal evidence survived to provide a clear picture of these women's physical activities. The pronounced development in their upper limbs indicates repetitive and high-intensity actions like drawing back a bowstring or stabilizing weapons, which supports the hypothesis that these items buried with them served practical purposes.

Moreover, the study highlights the harsh realities faced by even royal individuals during ancient Egypt’s Middle Kingdom period. Evidence of injuries such as broken ribs and foot fractures suggests that these princesses encountered significant physical challenges throughout their lives. The presence of spinal abnormalities in some of the mummies also points to a history of inbreeding within the royal family.

This research not only sheds light on the daily activities and lifestyles of ancient Egyptian royalty but also challenges long-held assumptions about gender roles and weapon use in ancient Egypt. It suggests that princesses were far more than passive figures in their society, actively participating in physically demanding tasks and possibly even engaging in combat or hunting scenarios.