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Rediscovering Ancient Elixir: 5,000-Year-Old Wine for an Egyptian Queen
“5,000-year-old wine found in Queen Meret-Neith’s tomb fuels speculation of her role as ancient Egypt’s first female pharaoh.”
In a groundbreaking archaeological excavation led by Christiana Köhler from the University of Vienna, a German-Austrian team has unearthed a treasure trove of historical significance. Nestled within the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith in Abydos, Egypt, the researchers made a remarkable discovery – 5,000-year-old wine and other precious grave goods. These findings have sparked intriguing speculations about the queen’s role as the first female pharaoh in ancient Egypt, potentially preceding the renowned Queen Hatshepsut.
Queen Meret-Neith, a prominent figure in the 1st Dynasty around 3,000 BCE, possessed an exceptional status. Notably, she was the sole woman to have a monumental tomb within Egypt’s inaugural royal cemetery at Abydos. Today, scholars conjecture that her influence extended further, suggesting she may have been an early female pharaoh, laying the foundation for future queens to ascend the throne.
Among the remarkable grave goods discovered, the team stumbled upon an abundance of wine jars, meticulously preserved for millennia. Astonishingly, some jars remained sealed, safeguarding the remnants of 5,000-year-old wine. These ancient vessels offer a tantalizing glimpse into the tastes and customs of Meret-Neith’s time, highlighting the importance of wine in ancient Egyptian culture.
Accompanying the wine jars were inscriptions that shed light on Meret-Neith’s responsibilities as a ruler. She was entrusted with central government offices, including the treasury, further emphasizing her historical significance. By meticulously documenting these inscriptions, the team is unraveling the mysteries surrounding this extraordinary queen.
Meret-Neith’s tomb complex, situated in the Abydos desert, astounded researchers with its grandeur. Constructed from unbaked mud bricks, clay, and wood, the monument housed not only the queen’s burial chamber but also the tombs of 41 courtiers and servants. The sequential construction phases spanning a considerable period challenged previous assumptions of ritual human sacrifices during the 1st Dynasty, providing new insights into burial practices of the time.
This awe-inspiring archaeological endeavor is a result of interdisciplinary cooperation between the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo, the University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, and Lund University in Sweden. The project received support from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG), highlighting the importance of international collaboration in unraveling the mysteries of our past.
The recent excavation of Queen Meret-Neith’s tomb in Abydos has uncovered a treasure trove of historical significance, including the remarkable discovery of 5,000-year-old wine. These findings not only shed light on the queen’s influential reign but also offer a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of ancient Egyptian society. As the excavation continues, we eagerly anticipate further revelations that will expand our understanding of this exceptional queen and her enduring legacy.
For more information, follow the link: https://www.newswise.com/articles/5-000-year-old-wine-for-egyptian-queen?sc=swhn&user=10022176
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