Merneith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merneith |
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Tomb stela of Merneith from the Umm el-Qa'ab.
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| Regent of Egypt | |
| Reign | ca. 2950 BC |
| Co-monarch | Den |
| Burial | Tomb Y, Umm El Qa'ab |
| Spouse | Djet |
| Issue | Den |
| Dynasty | 1st Dynasty |
| Father | Djer |
Merneith (also called Merit-neith or Meryt-Neith) was a powerful woman in Ancient Egypt. She lived during the First Dynasty, around 2950 BC. Merneith was a queen and a regent. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young or unable to rule.
Some records suggest that Merneith might have ruled Egypt all by herself. If this is true, she could be the very first female pharaoh in history! Her name means "Beloved by Neith". Neith was an important ancient Egyptian goddess. Merneith's special stone monument, called a stele, even has symbols of this goddess.
Merneith was likely the daughter of Djer, an earlier pharaoh. She was also the main wife of Djet, another pharaoh. This means she was the great-granddaughter of Narmer, who was the first pharaoh to unite Egypt. Merneith was also the mother of Den, who became pharaoh after her.
Contents
Who Was Merneith?
Merneith was a very important woman in ancient Egypt. She was a queen, but she also held great power as a regent. This means she helped rule the country. She might have even been a pharaoh herself.
A Powerful Woman in History
Merneith's time as a ruler was around 2950 BC. We don't know exactly how long she ruled. But her name and actions are found in many old records. This shows how important she was. If she was indeed a pharaoh, she would be the first woman to hold that title. This makes her a very special figure in history.
Her Family Connections
Merneith came from a royal family. Her father was likely Pharaoh Djer. She married Pharaoh Djet. Together, they had a son named Den. Den later became a powerful pharaoh himself. Merneith's family ties connected her to the very first rulers of unified Egypt.
Images for kids
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Cemetery B, Umm el-Qa'ab. Tombs of the pharaohs of the first and second dynasty of Egypt.
See also
In Spanish: Merytneit para niños
