Ancient Egyptian princesses weren’t just figureheads – their weapons reveal lives of skill and strength

This dagger was found in the coffin of the tomb of Princess Ita, a daughter of Amenemhat II of the 12th Dynasty of Egypt. De Young Museum, San Francisco, CC BY For centuries, the image of the ancient Egyptian princess has been shaped by ideas of ceremony, beauty and royal privilege. But a new scientific study suggests that some princesses of the Middle Kingdom (2030–1650BC) were highly trained, physically capable women who may have mastered weapons such as bows and maces. Their story challenges…