Perfumes and essences in Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptians attached great importance to their appearance and for this reason they used perfumes as a sign of their social, political or religious attitude. In the long history of Egypt, even exotic perfumes and essences were used, which were sometimes identified with specific deities.
Origin of Egyptian perfumes
The origin of perfumes and essences in ancient Egypt is in the depths of their historical development as even before they made alcohol, they developed the perfumery. They used to make perfumes from many different plants, flowers and wood fragments which they mixed with the required oils and fats. The most commonly used oils were moringa oil, flaxseed, sesame and castor oil. As distillates they used almond and olive oil extracts, which gave a more spicy taste to their aromas.
A scented Egyptian incident
In 1479 BC. began in ancient Egypte the pharaonic kingship of Hatshepsut in place of its three-year-old adopted son, which was to last for 20 years. Her tenure and the power she demonstrated during her reign were enough to remove the successor from the throne, although the latter was not in any disadvantage. The admiration of the ancient Egyptians for her face created a fragrance identical to her name that symbolized power, since Pharaoh Hatshepsut was a great figure and in her day the state had stability and increased influence even among the surrounding peoples, so that the ancient Egyptians adored her as similar to a goddess.
The God of perfume
There were cases in which the ancient Egyptians made perfumes whose smell was identified with corresponding gods. However, they included in the ancient Egyptian pantheon and god of perfumes, the god Nefertum. Nefertum had healing properties and was known as an aromatherapist, while according to tradition a wonderful scent emanating from his body, similar to a blue lotus flower.
The most expensive perfumes in Egypt
Mendesian: This is a mixture of myrrh and cassia to which chewing gum and resins were added to produce an extremely wonderful aroma.
Susinum: Wonderful ancient Egyptian aroma derived from the lily plant. It also contained myrrh and cinnamon.
Cyprinum: Expensive aroma made from henna and southern wood mixed with a pinch of cardamom and cinnamon. The scent that came out was so nice that it made it very popular.
Rhodinium: Based on the pleasant scent of roses. It was considered a scent of love.
Mummification in ancient Egypt
Why was conservation so important?
According to the ancient Egyptian conception of the afterlife, the spirit of the dead wοuld travel to another world during the day and would return to his body at night. Maintaining the viability of the spirit was important and could only be achieved through this journey. The return to the body and the identification with it was indicative of the eternal preservation of the specific entity, while otherwise the body would be sentenced to death. For this reason the ancient Egyptians sought to preserve the body of the dead in such a way as to be as visually as possible a depiction of a living state. For this reason they developed the technique of mummification, which was a guarantee of eternal life for the spirit and which was integrated into their theological framework and preserved throughout the long historical course of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The seven steps to immortality
According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who recorded the stages of mummification, it was followed 7 stages, as recorded below: The body was washed well with wine and spices, while all the internal organs of the body that were to be decomposed were removed. First the brain was removed through the nose with the help of a long metal hook. A deep incision was made in the abdomen and the lungs, stomach, liver and intestines were removed.
They then filled the body with a bundle of strong drying salt called sodium. With the same material, they covered the body externally and placed it on a sloping sofa, in order to collect any liquids that would be removed from the body during its drying.
In a similar way, the parts of the body that had been removed were dried and then placed in small coffins after being wrapped in linen. These coffins were placed in a trunk divided into four parts. Each of these parts had a cap with the pharaoh's face. Alternatively, they placed them in the so-called canopic vessels, each of which bore the name of the sons of Horus.
After 40 days, the body was completely dry and shrunken and washed with oil and aromatic spices.
It was wrapped in linen with aromatic oil in such a way that it regained its shape before death. Then they groomed the mummified body with jewelry made of gold and precious stones.
They wrapped it in a savannah and tied it with strips of linen, until the mummy took on its original size.
The effect of these actions usually lasted about a week. Among the linen they placed magical objects that would protect the path of the mummy spirit to the other world. Let us not forget that the meaning of magic in ancient Egypt was different from the meaning given to it today and had a healing character.
After these actions, the mummy's head was sometimes covered with a portrait mask, so that it would be recognizable by the spirit during its daily return to it.
Finally, the mummified body was placed in a series of gilded wooden coffins and these in turn were gradually placed in the sarcophagus.
Egyptian Medicine
(The following recipes are authentic and were taken from the Papyrus Ebers.)
The Ebers papyrus was found in Egypt in the 1870s, and it contains prescriptions written in the hieroglyphic script for over seven hundred remedies.
The catalogue as follows:
Cure for Diarrhoea:
1/8th cup figs and grapes, bread dough, pit corn, fresh Earth, onion, and elderberry.
Cure for Indigestion:
Crush a hog's tooth and put it inside of four sugar cakes. Eat for four days.
Cure for Burns:
Create a mixture of milk of a woman who has borne a male child, gum, and ram's hair. While administering this mixture say: Thy son Horus is burnt in the desert. Is there any water there? There is no water. I have water in my mouth and a Nile between my thighs. I have come to extinguish the fire.
Cure for Lesions of the Skin:
After the scab has fallen off put on it: Scribe's excrement. Mix in fresh milk and apply as a poultice.
Cure for Cataracts:
Mix brain-of-tortoise with honey. Place on the eye and say: There is a shouting in the southern sky in darkness, there is an uproar in the northern sky, The Hall of Pillars falls into the waters. The crew of the sun god bent their oars so that the heads at his side fall into the water, who leads hither what he finds? I lead forth what I find. I lead forth your heads. I lift your necks. I fasten what has been cut from you in its place. I lead you forth to drive away the god of Fevers and all possible deadly arts.
Reference Used:
Brier, Bob. Ancient Egyptian Magic. Quill Press: New York, 1981.
Herbal Remedies used by the Ancient Egyptians
Acacia (acacia nilotica)- vermifuge, eases diharea and internal bleeding, also used to treat skin diseases.
Aloe vera - worms, relieves headaches, soothes chest pains, burns, ulcers and for skin disease and allergies.
Basil (ocimum basilicum) - excellent for heart.
Balsam Apple (Malus sylvestris) or Apple of Jerusalem - laxative, skin allergies, soothes headaches, gums and teeth, for asthma, liver stimulant, weak digestion. ·
Bayberry (Myrica cerifera) - stops diarrhoea, soothes ulcers, shrinks haemorrhoids, repels flies.
Belladonna - pain reliever; camphor tree - reduces fevers, soothes gums, soothes epilepsy.
Caraway (Carum carvi; Umbelliferae)- soothes flatulence, digestive, breath freshener.
Cardamom (Eletarria cardamomum; Zingiberacae)- Used as a spice in foods, digestive, soothes flatulence.
Colchicum (Citrullus colocynthus) - also known as "Meadow Saffron", soothes rheumatism, reduces swelling.
Common Juniper tree (Juniperis Phoenicia; Juniperus drupaceous)- digestive, soothes chest pains, soothes stomach cramps.
Cubeb pepper (Piper cubeba; Piperocaine)- urinary tract infections, larynx and throat infections, gum ulcers and infections, soothes headaches.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)- soothes flatulence, relieves dyspepsia, laxative and diuretic properties.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) - respiratory disorders, cleanses the stomach, calms the liver, soothes pancreas, reduces swelling.
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) - throat and larynx infections, stops bleeding, cuts phlegm, asthma, stops vomiting.
Garlic (Allium sativa) - gives vitality, soothes flatulence, and aids digestion, mild laxative, shrinks haemorrhoids, rids body of "spirits" (note, during the building of the Pyramids, the workers were given garlic daily to give them the vitality and strength to carry on and perform well).
Henna (Lawsomia inermis) - astringent, stops diarrhoea, close open wounds.
Honey was widely used, a natural antibiotic and used to dress wounds and as a base for healing unguants, as was castor oil, coriander, beer, and other foods.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra - mild laxative, expels phlegm, soothes liver, pancreas and chest and respiratory problems.
Mustard (Sinapis alba) - induces vomiting, relieves chest pains.
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) - stops diarrhoea, relives headaches, soothes gums, toothaches and backaches.
Onion (Allium cepa) - diuretic, induces perspiration, prevents colds, soothes sciatica, relieves pains and other cardiovascular problems.
Parsley (Apium petroselinum) - diuretic.
Mint (Mentha piperita) - soothes flatulence, aids digestion, stops vomiting, breath freshener.
Sandalwood (Santallum albus) - aids digestion, stops diarrhoea, soothes headaches and gout (used, of course, in incense).
Sesame (Sesamum indicum)- soothes asthma.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)- laxative.
Thyme (Thymus/Thimbra) - pain reliever.
Tumeric (Curcumae longa) - closes open wounds (also was used to dye skin and cloth).
Poppy (Papaver somniferum) - relieves insomnia, relieves headaches, anaesthetic, soothes respiratory problems, deadens pain.
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We are not responsible for any problems resulting from the use of these recipes.