Ancient Egyptian Princesses Were Skilled Hunters

The findings from the mummies of the daughters of Pharaoh 2. Amanemhat revealed that the princesses were skilled in the use of weapons. Previously, it was thought that the princesses' burial with various weapons was symbolic, but the strong muscle connections and other organ remnants also revealed that they used these weapons. The mummies of Pharaoh 2. Amanemhat's daughters were discovered in Egypt in the 1890s, but were only recently examined at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The princesses were buried with weapons such as bows and arrows, just like male mummies, and Princess Ita was found with a particularly beautiful dagger. Initially, archaeologists believed these were only ceremonial objects, but a study of the bodies revealed strong muscle connections, well-developed upper limbs, and healed fractures. The lead author of the study, Dr. Zeinab Hashesh, said, “We found significant development in the upper limbs of these individuals. This is related to repetitive, high-intensity actions such as pulling a bowstring or stabilizing a weapon, and it proves that these activities became habitual throughout their lives. This directly explains the presence of bows, arrows, and maces in the women's graves. They were not just symbolic gifts, but tools they actively used.” 2. Amenemhat was the third king of the 12th dynasty during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and died in 1895 BC. His daughters, Ita, Itaweret, and Khenmet, were mummified and buried inside the pyramid complex.