Abstract
The extensive use of green, white and black make-up has been known since the earliest periods of Egyptian history1,2. We have investigated cosmetic powders dating from between 2000 and 1200 BC that were preserved in their original containers. Quantitative crystallographic and chemical analysis of the organic and mineral components of the powders enabled us to identify two natural lead-based compounds: crushed ore of galena (PbS) and cerussite (PbCO3). We also found two unexpected constituents: laurionite (PbOHCl) and phosgenite (Pb2Cl2CO3). Because they are neither natural extracted ores nor products resulting from subsequent ageing or chemical modification, laurionite and phosgenite appear to be synthetic products manufactured by the Egyptians using ‘wet’ chemistry.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Forbes, R. J. Studies in Ancient Technology Vol. III (Brill, Leiden, 1955).
Lucas, A. & Harris, J. R. Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries 80 – 97 (Arnold, London, 1963).
Vandier d'Abbadie, J. Catalogue des objets de toilette égyptiens du Musée du Louvre (Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris, 1972).
Edwards, R., Gillard, R. D., Williams, P. A. & Pollard, A. M. Mineral. Mag. 56, 53–65 (1992).
Conophagos, C. in The Evolution of the First Fire-Using Industries (eds Wertime, T. A. & Wertime, S. F.) 181-191 (Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC, 1982).
Wellman, M. Dioscoridis Pedanii, de Materia Medica, Libri Quinque (Weidmannsche, Vienna, 1958).
Zehnacker, H. Pline l'Ancien, Histoire Naturelle XXXIII (Belles Lettres, Paris, 1983).
Lucas, A. in Quibell Ann. Serv. Antiq. Egypte 2, 141–143 (1901).
Bardinet, T. Les papyrus médicaux de l'Egypte pharaonique (ed. Fayard, Paris, 1995).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Supplementary information
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walter, P., Martinetto, P., Tsoucaris, G. et al. Making make-up in Ancient Egypt. Nature 397, 483–484 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/17240
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/17240
This article is cited by
-
A Bronze Age lip-paint from southeastern Iran
Scientific Reports (2024)
-
Recipes of Ancient Egyptian kohls more diverse than previously thought
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Make up in the grave: scientific analysis of contents of the so-called kohl pots at the archaeological site of Estark–Joshaqan, central Iranian plateau
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2022)
-
Pigments—Lead-based whites, reds, yellows and oranges and their alteration phases
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2022)
-
A multidisciplinary study unveils the nature of a Roman ink of the I century AD
Scientific Reports (2021)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
