Princesses in Ancient Egypt weren’t just royalty—they were trained archers

The lives of princesses in ancient Egypt are often described as luxurious and protected, surrounded by servants in vast palaces. However, a new look at the burial chambers of some ancient Egyptian princesses reveals that they also participated in skilled physical activity and were well versed in weapons.

A team of researchers studied six mummies of royal women from the Middle Kingdom, some of whom were buried with items such as bows and arrows – items traditionally associated with men. Scholars have long debated whether the weapons found in the tombs of ancient Egyptian princesses were ceremonial or functional. In other words, did the princesses use the weapons they were buried with?

By analyzing their bones, the researchers found that the princesses were very physically active in ways consistent with the use of the weapons buried next to them. The findings are detailed in a study published today in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology.

She is no ordinary princess

Mummies were originally discovered in 1890 at Dahshur, a pyramid complex located southwest of Cairo. They were later rediscovered in 2020 during a curatorial project for the Egyptian Museum after being lost for years.

Four of the six women were sisters: Princess Ita, Princess Khenmet, Princess Itaveret, and an anonymous woman tentatively identified as Princess Sathormerit; all were daughters of Pharaoh Amenemhat II.

The four princesses were buried in matching underground chambers that contained items such as bows and arrows. A particularly impressive dagger was buried next to Princess Ita. The other two mummies belonged to Princess Nub-Hotep and King Hor, who were also buried with similar objects.

Archaeologists analyzed their bones to determine their age, height and gender, as well as any illnesses or injuries. The remains of the sisters show a strong muscular connection, revealing that the women were quite vigorous, possibly involved in activities related to the weapons found in their graves.

« We found marked development in the upper limbs of these individuals that correlated with high-intensity repetitive actions such as pulling a string or stabilizing a weapon, proving that these activities were common throughout their lives, » Zeinab Hashesh, a professor at Beni Suef University and lead author of the study, said in a statement. « This directly explains the presence of bows, arrows and maces in women’s tombs; these are not just symbolic gifts, but tools that they actively used. »

Work hard, exercise more

Princess Ita showed strong upper body muscle attachment, suggesting she used weapons such as maces or daggers, according to the study. Princess Itaveret’s skeleton revealed that she was a skilled archer who survived broken ribs and leg fractures, while Princess Kenmeth had strong ligaments.

« These injuries are most likely caused by accidents, falls, high impact or other impacts associated with an active lifestyle, whether through hunting, military training or other demanding activities, » Hashesh said.

The mummies of Princess Nub-Hotep and King Hor show similar evidence of having been archers. The findings suggest that members of the royal family were actively involved in physically demanding activities such as archery and hunting, which is reflected in the way their bones evolved to support heavy muscle use.

The researchers behind the study hope to go beyond simply identifying the royal women and help reconstruct their full life stories.

« Their objects and jewelry are truly captivating, breathtaking in their craftsmanship, » Hashesh said. « Yet, while archaeologists have long focused on preserving these treasures, the people themselves have often been forgotten. Our study seeks to change that. »