Ancient Egypt: New research reveals details on female ruler and frescoes

New research and advanced imaging techniques are providing fresh insights into Ancient Egyptian history and artistry.

A study published in ‘Prague Egyptology Studies’ has re-examined a 72-year-old photograph to clarify the status of Meretneith, a woman believed to have ruled Egypt during the First Dynasty. By enhancing the quality of a 1954 black-and-white image of a seal discovered by archaeologist William B. Emery, researchers identified that Meretneith’s name was written using serekh-s—symbols typically reserved for pharaohs. This finding supports the theory that she held significant leadership power shortly after the unification of Egypt.

In a separate discovery, scientists using X-ray scanning technology have uncovered previously unknown details in Egyptian frescoes dating back approximately 3,000 years. The scans revealed subtle retouching and artistic methods used by ancient painters that had remained invisible to the naked eye for millennia.