These practices, while aimed at maintaining beauty and health, often involved methods and materials that would leave anyone speechless today. Here, we uncover the disturbing hygiene rituals of royal females in ancient Egypt.
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The Quest for Eternal Beauty
Ancient Egyptian royalty, especially women, were obsessed with beauty and youth, believing that physical appearance was a reflection of their divine nature. To maintain their allure, they engaged in elaborate and often disturbing beauty rituals.
Milk and Honey Baths: While this might sound luxurious, the reality was far from pleasant. Royal women, including the famous Cleopatra, bathed in sour milk and honey to exfoliate and soften their skin. The lactic acid in the sour milk acted as a natural exfoliant, but the stench and stickiness of the concoction were far from glamorous.
Deadly Cosmetics: To achieve the iconic look of ancient Egyptian royalty, women used a variety of cosmetics made from natural but toxic substances. Kohl eyeliner, made from lead-based minerals, could cause serious health issues, including lead poisoning. Similarly, their distinctive green eyeshadow was made from malachite, another toxic mineral.
Hair and Head Hygiene
Maintaining their hair and scalp was crucial for Egyptian royal women, yet their methods were often bizarre and unhygienic by modern standards.
Lice Removal: Head lice were a common problem, and while many Egyptians shaved their heads to combat this, royal women often wore elaborate wigs. To keep their wigs and natural hair free from lice, they used a mixture of animal fats and herbs. However, these fats quickly turned rancid in the heat, creating a foul-smelling concoction.
Beeswax and Resin: To style their wigs and keep them in place, royal women used beeswax and resin. This sticky mixture could trap dust and insects, turning the wigs into breeding grounds for bacteria and other pathogens.
Perfumes and Deodorants
Given the harsh climate and their elaborate attire, royal women relied heavily on perfumes and deodorants to mask body odors, often with disturbing ingredients.
Animal Gland Perfumes: Some perfumes were made from the glands of animals like musk deer or civet cats. These glands were mixed with essential oils and applied to the skin. While effective in masking odors, the extraction process was cruel, and the resultant smell was overwhelmingly strong.
Incense Cones: To combat body odor, royal women wore cones of scented fat on their heads. As the fat melted in the heat, it released fragrant oils. However, this practice left them with greasy hair and clothing, and the melting fat could turn rancid, defeating its purpose.
Menstrual Hygiene
The rituals surrounding menstrual hygiene were particularly troubling, reflecting a blend of practicality and superstition.
Papyrus Tampons: Royal women used softened papyrus as tampons. While innovative, these rudimentary tampons could cause infections due to their rough texture and the presence of bacteria.
Menstrual Isolation: During menstruation, royal women often followed strict rituals of isolation and purification. They used various herbal concoctions to cleanse themselves, some of which could cause irritation or harm.