Female king ruled ancient Egypt 5,000 years ago
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
More than 5,000 years ago, Meretneith, a royal woman in ancient Egypt, may have ruled the country as a king, not just a queen.
Egyptologists have debated her status for decades, needing a text identifying her as a ruler to confirm her position. Researchers recently examined a photograph of a mud stopper, a pottery plug, from Saqqara, a site in Egypt, using new digital technology to enhance a hieroglyphic inscription.
The team digitally clarified the inscription, which includes royal symbols called serekhs. Walter B. Emery, an Egyptologist from the Egypt Exploration Society in London, originally suggested the inscription showed Meretneith’s name alongside those of male rulers. However, the poor quality of the original photograph made it difficult to verify his claim. The new technique revealed that the signs within the serekhs match those used to write Meretneith’s name, identifying her as a co-regent alongside King Djer.
This evidence, combined with her elaborate tomb, administrative titles, and seals, suggests Meretneith held various political roles throughout her life, possibly ruling for at least 30 years. Researchers believe her gender allowed her to adapt to changing political needs, stepping into and out of power as required.
