EP - 105 - Skincare Fit for a Pharaoh: Ancient Egypt’s Anti-Aging Secrets
What did beauty look like in the land of pyramids and pharaohs? In this episode, we dive into the anti-aging secrets of Ancient Egypt- from fragrant youth-restoring oils to eyeliner that doubled as medicine (and maybe poison).
Discover how sacred rituals, science, and status intertwined in the ancient world's most iconic beauty culture.
Tune in and uncover the timeless obsession with staying young.
Are. You. Ready?
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Sources and Further Reading:
Books & Academic Texts:
Tyldesley, Joyce. Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt. Profile Books, 2008.
Roehrig, Catharine H. Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005.
Ikram, Salima. Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press,
2003.
Barber, Elizabeth Wayland. Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years – Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times. W. W. Norton & Company, 1994.
Pinch, Geraldine. Magic in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press, 1994.
Manniche, Lise. Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt.
Cornell University Press, 1999.
Fletcher, Joann. The Search for Nefertiti: The True Story of an Amazing Discovery.
HarperCollins, 2004.
Watterson, Barbara. Women in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press, 2007.
Lucarelli, Rita.“The Ritual and Symbolism of Anointing in Ancient Egypt.” Journal of
Egyptian Archaeology, vol. 103, 2017.
Scientific & Archeological Studies:
Walter, Philippe et al. “Lead-Based Compounds in Ancient Egyptian Cosmetics: Toxicity and Medicinal Use.” Journal of Archaeological Science, 2010.
Seiler, Roger et al. “Heavy Metal Toxicity in New Kingdom Egyptian Mummies.” Forensic
Science International, vol. 309, 2019.
Zakrzewski, Sonia R. “Bioarchaeological Insights into Ancient Egyptian Medicine and Cosmetic Use.” Antiquity, vol. 91, no. 358, 2017, pp. 958–972.
Ancient Texts & Translations:
The Ebers Papyrus (ca. 1550 BCE). Translated by H. E. Rycroft, 1930.
The Book of the Dead
– Referenced for funerary anointing and cosmetic/spiritual rituals.
Pliny the Elder. Natural History (Book 13, Book 28, Book 33–36 especially) – Roman-era
encyclopedia detailing Egyptian beauty rituals, the use of natron, lead-based
ointments, kohl, and anti-aging recipes involving honey, salt, and vinegar.
Public domain translation: Perseus Digital Library – Pliny's Natural History
Expert Commentary & Interviews:
Dr. Philippe Walter, chemist, Louvre Museum — commentary in Science Advances, 2010.
Dr. Joann Fletcher, Egyptologist, University of York — interview in National Geographic,
2015.
Dr. Rita Lucarelli, UC Berkeley — keynote lecture, Annual Egyptological Congress, 2017.
Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist — featured in The Mummy Chronicles: Secrets of Ancient Egypt, 2018.
Articles & Online Publications:
BBC History. “Ancient Egyptian Beauty Secrets.”
Smithsonian Magazine. “Ancient Egyptian Makeup Might Have Been Medicinal.”
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Intro/Outro Music:
Music by Savvier from Fugue FAME INC
Additional Tracks:
"Ancient Awakening"- Bjorn Alva
"Ta amul"- Feras Charestan
"Desigh Ney"- Ajwaa
🎵 All music in this episode is sourced from Epidemic Sound
