Archaeologists Uncover 5,000-Year-Old Wine in Egypt

A new discovery has been made by an archaeological team from Egypt, Germany, and Austria working in Upper Egypt. They found some 5,000-year-old wine inside sealed jars that had never been opened.

This discovery was made in Queen Merneith’s tomb in Abydos, Sohag. In addition to the ancient wine, the team also found a bunch of furniture that was used for funerals.

Mostafa Waziri, who is the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, shared on Sunday that these old jars are big and in good condition.

Dietrich Raue, who is the Director of the German Archaeological Institute, added that the team also found out more about the life of the ancient queen and the time she ruled.

When they looked at the writings on one of the tablets found in the tomb, they discovered that Queen Merneith had a significant role. She was in charge of important government offices, explained Dietrich Raue.

Raue also mentioned that the team is still working diligently to find out more about this enigmatic queen’s life.

🪷ف أبيدوس اكتشفو مئات الزلع فيها آثار نبيد عمرها ٥٠٠٠ سنة ف مقبرة الملكة "ميريت نيت"(الأسرة الأولى)و كان لقبها أم الملك واللي احتمال تكون أول ملكة ف التاريخ. #مصر
5,000 year-old sealed #wine jars discovered in Queen Meritniet's (1st dynasty, #Egypt)tomb in Abydos.#Archaeology pic.twitter.com/j4WhsTzMtN

— 𓋹Ma3et𓋹 (@Ma3etTawi) October 2, 2023

Christiana Kohler, who leads the mission, revealed that their research into the tomb has revealed that it was constructed using materials like raw bricks, clay, and wooden planks.

Kohler pointed out that Queen Merneith’s royal tomb in Abydos is possibly the only one from the First Dynasty that has been found up to this point.

“This observation, together with other evidence, radically challenges the oft-proposed but unproven idea of ritual human sacrifice in the 1st Dynasty,” Kohler stated.

Additionally, she mentioned that there are 41 tombs near the queen’s tomb, which belong to her advisors and servants.

Queen Merneith was the first female pharaoh

There’s evidence to suggest that Queen Merneith might have been a ruler of Egypt on her own. This idea is based on official records.

If this turns out to be true, and the earlier royal wife, Neithhotep, didn’t rule independently, then Merneith could be considered the first female pharaoh and the earliest queen who ruled on her own in recorded history. She governed around 2950 BC for a period that we’re not sure about, according to Wikipedia.

Merneith’s name, which means “Beloved by Neith,” has symbols related to the ancient Egyptian deity Neith on her stele. She might have been the daughter of Djer and likely the senior wife of Djet.

Being Djer’s daughter would make her the great-granddaughter of Narmer, the first pharaoh to unite Egypt. She was also the mother of Den, who succeeded her as ruler.