Was Meret-Neith Egypt’s First Female Pharaoh? Study Revisits Ancient Queen’s Rule

A recently published study suggests that Meret-Neith ruled ancient Egypt more than 5,000 years ago, raising fresh questions about whether she was the country’s first female pharaoh.

The research, published in Prague Egyptological Studies, brings renewed attention to one of Egypt’s earliest queens and the nature of her authority.

The central question is whether Meret-Neith’s rule should be understood as that of a pharaoh. The brief account of the study identifies her as a ruler but does not provide the evidence behind that conclusion.

It also offers no details about the study’s methods or any archaeological findings supporting its assessment. On the information available, the question of whether she was Egypt’s first female pharaoh remains open.