Ancient Egyptian Cosmetic and Style - Essay Example

Introduction The use of cosmetics has been in use overtime and can be connected to the evolution of man in history. The production and application of cosmetics vary from one community to another in a given number of ways as in: storage, application procedures, occasions when specific cosmetic can be applied and the types of cosmetic. Specifically, the Egyptian community has been recognized as one of those communities that have shown great appreciation and use of cosmetics. The use of cosmetics in Egypt can be traced back from the earliest times of community mummification up to the contemporary period. The ancient Egyptian community was highly recognized and appreciated fro their high level of cleanliness and their concern to personal appearance for instance: It was a pre-requisite for he priests to be clean since they were considered to be a connection between the gods and the community. Additionally, in the ancient times, the Egyptians applied various methods in order to improve the level of their personal cleanliness, these methods were inclusive of: Shaving various body parts such as armpits, the genital area, beards and the head. Taking several baths a day was also considered pertinent in that it ensured that persons remain clean through out the day. Other methods such as the use of Ground Carob Pellets were also used to rub the skin in order to reduce body odor. Consequently, the use of cosmetics was extended to areas such as preparation of dead bodies for burial. Special body creams were used to cleanse the body before mummification an example is the burial of some three women from the Tuthmosis III Court in 1400 BC who were buried after being cleansed by using a very expensive cream made from a combination of oil and lime juice. Varieties of the ancient Egyptian Cosmetics There were various ancient Egyptian cosmetics that were used on different parts of the body ranging from facial to other body parts. These varieties included: Oil, lime juice, red ochre, henna, and kohl, white and black make-ups. Preparation of the Egyptian Ancient Cosmetics Different techniques were applied to produce a variety of cosmetics. To begin with, the production of oil involved pressing the finest fruits or seeds such as the Moringa nuts which were combined with inorganic and organic materials that were grounded and used as pigments. Additionally, the production of Kohl; an eye paint was carried out through grinding some green malachite, cerussite, lead carbonate (white in color), galena (lead ore) and occasionally minimum amounts of laurinite and phosgenite. These materials were then ground into powder and mixed with oil. In the preparation of the black eye paint which was also known as msdm.t there is no clear data concerning its preparation however, records show that it was imported from the Punt together with other goods such as incense, monkeys as well as apes. The importation also applied to the green eye paint that was also known as the wAD.w. Preparations of the ancient Egyptian Perfumes These perfumes were produced from plant roots, henna leaves, bitter almonds, roses as well as cinnamon. These ingredients were soaked in special oil products and occasionally boiled; the final product was extracted from through squeezing the oil from the mixture. The use of perfumes at that time was imperative as it was ascribed to gods who then believed to be attracted by the pleasant smell. Various uses of the ancient Egyptian Cosmetic Products The application of cosmetic in the ancient Egyptian Community was done by everybody regardless of a person’s social class or sex. These uses were extended to therapeutic methods as well as aesthetics; the Red Ochre was broken into finer pieces and mixed with water in order to be applied as a lip make-up for the lips and the cheeks by using a special brush. Oil cosmetic products were applied and rubbed against the skin to offer protection from the hot sunlight. On the other hand, henna was used to beautify the fingernails and was existent in orange and yellow colors. Other make-ups such as the Kohl were believed to contain magical and supernatural powers that could heal various diseases; it was therefore applied by drawing a dark line on the upper and the lower eyelids and then extending it up to the sides of the eye. Ancient Egyptian Storage Containers Majority of the Egyptian Cosmetics were stored in jars of varying sizes and shapes; these jars were made from basalt and granite materials. Other storage materials included; perfume flasks and cones that could be used to store either solid perfumes or liquid perfumes. Methods of Preservation of the ancient Egyptian Cosmetics The Ancient Egyptian perfumes were preserved by storage in specially developed equipment such as the basalt and the granite jars and cones that could keep the cosmetic for longer periods. Other equipment for storage was the perfume jars that were specifically used to store perfumes for longer periods of time; the shell and ivory cosmetic containers that could keep small quantities of cosmetics for extend periods. Other Egyptian Styles Apart from the cosmetics and the make-ups, there are also other unique ancient Egyptian Styles that were used in daily life to ensure the maintenance of beauty and cleanliness. These styles were recognized in: Washing clothes whereby special washing materials were applied; it involved the use of a special soap known as the natron (swabu) which was a paste made of clay or ash. In some cases, the soap could be scented and made to produce lather. This soap was made from a mixture of alkaline salts, animal and vegetable oils and had extended uses such as washing the body and treating skin infections. Very few discoveries have been made to find out whether the ancient Egyptians used bathrooms or not. However, discoveries have shown that some well-off ancient Egyptians were using special equipment known as the abusir for washing their feet. Others included the use of public bathtubs that were made of stone or wooden basins; they were also installed with a stove that was used to heat the water. The Egyptians also had basins that were meant to wash laundry or the body mostly after meals. These basins were filled with the natron a s well as alkaline salt solutions from the jars; their main scouring agents was sand that was used to scrub the body in order to enhance the reduction of dirt. Persons that were unable to eliminate bad body odor through perfuming and bathing, were advised to consult the physicians who provided them with other effective alternative body cleaning methods such as; the use of incense and lettuce. Methodologies hair hygiene among the ancient Egyptian Society The ancient Egyptians believed that the hair is naturally a habitat for parasites like bed bugs, lice and ticks that can cause severe itchiness especially among children. They also believed that the hair on the head is most vulnerable to such parasites when to proper maintained. In order to eliminate such incidences, they devised a method whereby products such as oil could be applied on the hair to eliminate or suppress the existence of the parasites in the hair. Other methods involved bald shaving that exposes the skin hence eliminating the habitat of such parasites. Diseases like typhus were believed to be spread by such insects hence priests were required to shave their whole bodies to reduce the chances of infections and remove other dirty materials from their bodies. Ways in which the ancient Egyptians preserved their youthful appearances. Despite the fact that the life expectancy of the ancient Egyptians was forty years, life was characterized by various health risks hence one had to take care of the scars as a result of injury such as cuts and burns. Such scars were hidden by the use of special oil products prepared from a mixture of kohl, red ochre and sycamore juice. The physicians of that time believed that honey was an anti-bacterium and was therefore applied on the skin to cure related skin infections. Fenugreek seed were used to cure skin infections by extracting the oil and gently applying it on the skin. Skin wrinkles that were associated by extreme exposure to the sun rays were reduced by applying special creams like the fermented plant juice, Moringa oil and the ground Cyprus grass juice. Methods of maintaining hygiene in the ancient Egyptian community during the menstruation period The menstruation period was considered to be a period for cleansing both men and women due to the fact that men were to avoid women at this time since women who were menstruating were considered to be unclean. During this time, women were using folded thick strips of linen clothing which could be washed and re-used. Importance of using the cosmetics among the ancient Egyptian Community The use of cosmetics like perfumes was believed to create a strong relationship between the society and their gods. Scented cosmetic products were believed to attract gods hence improve the relationships. It was also important that the priests maintain a high level of cleanliness which could only be achieved by bathing, clean shaving and use of scented cosmetics. Consequently, the use of cosmetics was seen imperative when preparing the dead for burial; it was believed that the dead had to show a proper impression among the gods during the judgment day and this could only be achieved through the application of proper make ups and perfumes. Some other cosmetic products were also used as curative products to various skin infections and conditions such as typhus, scars, burn marks and wrinkles. These could be used inform of bathing and washing soaps or creams that were directly applied to the skin on the condition of infection. Owing to the fact that Egypt was in a hot climatic region, men and women could be easily affected by bad odor arising from the excess sweating. This could be avoided by the use of deodorants that repel the bad odor. However, other methods such as clean shaving and taking a number of baths a day could only be applied. The Egyptians were also keen to maintain a high level of their dental hygiene and conditions. They successfully achieved this through chewing of natural herbs such as the Salvadora persica, a native tree that was only found in the Southern Egypt and Sudan. In order to improve their breaths, the ancient Egyptians gargled with milk and even chewed the Frankincense. Cosmetics were also used to improve personal appearance for instance: The use of wigs by persons who were bald; the application of make-ups like the application of lipsticks, painting fingernails, painting the cheeks and the eyebrows by using different favorite colors. The impression created by the appearance of a man’s and a woman’s hair was also of high importance since it was ascribed to erotic signs of the two genders. Among the queens and the pharaohs, cosmetics also played very pertinent roles; by wearing green kohl make ups, the queens and the pharaohs believed that they were protected fro evil spirits since some of the cosmetics were believed to contain supernatural as well as healing power. Other make-ups that were believed to contain healing powers were: The malachite that was extracted from the Sinai region; it was believed to be an aphrodisiac since it contained the powers from the Goddess of love and beauty. Cosmetic also played an important role among the ancient Egyptian Society to creating a sense of societal order whereby certain make-up were applied to people from a specific social class due to their values and the capacity of an individual to afford. The sense of order was also created by symbolism depicted in the way some cosmetics were applied. Examples of ancient Egyptian Cosmetics that have been discovered An expensive cosmetic jar has been discovered dating 1400 BC has been discovered from the tomb where the three women from the Tuthmosis III Court were buried. Phillip Walter, a researcher from the Louvre Museum has discovered forty nine jars believed to have Egyptian Origin. These jars are currently undergoing analysis in order to determine the specific cosmetics that they were used to store. The Ebers Medical Papyrus that is dating up to 1500 BCE has also been discovered; it provides a description of the preparation of the natron as a soap agent. It states that the natron is prepared by combining alkaline salts, animal and vegetable oil. It also defines other functions of the natron. Public bathhouses have also been discovered at Tebtunis which is a center for the Hellenistic culture. These public bathhouses are approximately dating the third BCE and are believed to have been made by stone basins with showers as well as stoves for heating the water. Conclusion Cosmetics play an important role in every society; however, these roles may differ to greater degree from one society to the other. The study above has focused on the use of cosmetic in the ancient Egyptian society providing comprehensive discussions on various issues concerning the use of cosmetics in the ancient Egypt. The results of the study show that indeed various discoveries have been made to confirm the application of cosmetic and other styles in the ancient Egypt. Work Cited Lucas, A.The Journal of the Egyptian Archaeology. Cosmetics, Perfumes and Incense in Ancient Egypt 16.1/2 (1930): 41-53. Print. Read More