The princesses of Egypt were expert archers

It was known from the strong presence of innervated muscles and healed fractures. It shows that Egyptian royal women could use the weapons with which they were buried. And their high status did not exempt them from difficulties, according to experts from the University of Beni-Suef (Egypt). The princesses of Egypt were expert archers.

For decades, scientists have debated the meaning of weapons found in the burial chambers of some ancient Egyptian princesses. Especially if they were symbolic or practical tools. That is why a reassessment was made of the mummies of five royal women of the Middle Kingdom. It shows that some princesses buried with weapons could use them. This is published in 'Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology'.

Developed muscles

«Members of the royal family, especially women, actively participated in activities that required skill and physical effort. Like archery and hunting,” they say. «Their bones were developed to withstand intense muscular use. "Which corresponds directly to the weapons discovered in their tombs."

They studied six royal mummies found in Dahshur. It is a funerary complex of pyramids and pit tombs. These were lost for years and were rediscovered at the Egyptian Museum during a conservation project in 2020.

Four of the six were sisters, daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II. They were buried with objects such as bows and arrows, traditionally associated with men. People's age, height and sex at death, and signs of illness or injury were estimated.

Sports experts

One of the princesses had strong muscles in her upper body. It suggests that he used to use weapons such as maces or daggers. Others had very strong ligaments; one of them survived rib and foot fractures. Her skeleton shows that she was an expert archer. The robust muscular attachments on the sisters' bones indicate that they were very physically active. It is consistent with the use of weapons in their tombs.

The princesses of Egypt were expert archers. And, in those cases, injuries, such as broken ribs, were common. These injuries were likely caused by accidents, falls, hard blows, or other impacts related to an active lifestyle. Whether for hunting, military training or other demanding activities.