![]() ![]() But specific elements of the process – such as how, when and where to use each material – had not been confirmed. Natron – or sodium carbonate – is a salt that was used to preserve both meats and corpses. It was known that the ancient Egyptians used beeswax, bitumen from the Dead Sea, cedar oils from present-day Lebanon and pistachio oils from Persia. Many of these vessels are inscribed with what they once contained, along with instructions regarding how to prepare the deceased for eternal life.ĭespite several analyses of mummified remains and embalming materials, the complex embalming process of ancient Egyptian civilization largely remains a mystery. Their analysis has made it possible to identify the substances that were used to embalm the bodies. Egyptian and German archaeologists have now unveiled the results of their research on more than a hundred ceramic vessels found inside the “funeral home” that once existed in the Saqqara necropolis, in the Giza Governorate along the Nile River. In addition, ancient Egyptians found ways to make honey into pills so that their breath would acquire a sweet smell.ĭespite natron’s extensive historic role, the chemical has experienced a decline in use both in the home and industry due to its gradual replacement with other closely related sodium compounds such as baking soda.In the necropolises of ancient Egypt, there were workshops to prepare the deceased for the afterlife, much as today’s funeral homes prepare bodies before their final departure to the cemetery. Chewing sodium carbonate acted as an ancient mouthwash and tooth cleanser. In order to fight bad breath, their secret formula was solid natron. Following their perfumed baths, deodorants in the form of aromatic oils, carob, incense, spices, beeswax and porridge were used to mask body odour. They achieved this by mixing natron with oil in order to create a primitive type of soap, which would soften water whilst removing dirt, oil and grease from their bodies. This was undoubtedly a reflection of their emphasis on maintaining a clean body and fresh breath. Many experts claim that the ancient Egyptians were the first to underscore the importance of beauty and hygiene in their artwork. The symbolism displayed in these artworks established a sense of order as well as a way to preserve their beliefs, cultures and ways of life. ![]() ![]() Thus, Egyptian blue can be found in countless artworks and paintings. In layman’s terms, blue was their meaning of life and re-birth. It symbolized the heavens, primordial floods, sky and water. ![]() It is not at all surprising that the ancient Egyptians revered Egyptian blue. The discovery wasn’t made earlier for two main reasons-nobody was looking, and now we actually have the tools to image things with nanometer dimensions.” But why has it taken us more than 4,5000 years to discover these additional myriad applications of Egyptian blue? Well, as Tina Salguero says “this aspect of Egyptian blue’s chemistry was under our noses for millennia. Besides these possible new roles in biomedical imaging and analysis, Egyptian blue also has potential for use in telecommunications, security ink and laser technology. This finding has enormous significance! Tina Salguero, a chemist at University of Georgia, stated that Egyptian blue could improve medical imaging since near-infrared radiation penetrates human tissues very effectively and non-invasively. Recently, researchers discovered that when Egyptian blue is irradiated with visible light, exceptionally strong infrared emission is observed. To this day, this artificial pigment can be found on myriad forms of art from the early Egyptian dynasties until the end of the Roman period. The first synthetic pigment “Egyptian Blue" was concocted more than 4,500 years ago by grinding and heating a mixture of sand, copper and natron. In addition to its historic use for preservation, natron was very popular among Egyptian artists. This alkaline combo created a hostile environment for bacteria. The Egyptians also preserved their meat and fish by mixing natron with salt. Mummification is based on natron’s ability to absorb water and thus dry out a body. This mineral was mined as a powdery solid from dry lakebeds near the Nile and had many practical applications in Ancient Egypt. Natron is hydrated sodium carbonate with the formula Na 2(CO 3)10(H 2O). Later, in order to protect the bodies from wild animals, the Egyptians developed a method of preservation to ensure the bodies would remain 'lifelike' by using a special mineral known as natron. Records indicate that the earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in the desert where the heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies creating natural 'mummies'. ![]()
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