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What scents did the ancient Egyptians use?
March 16, 2009Researchers in Bonn aim to recreate a 3,500-year-old scent
Pharaoh Hatshepsut was a power-conscious woman who assumed the reins of government in Egypt around the year 1479 B.C. In actual fact, she was only supposed to represent her step-son Thutmose III, who was three years old at the time, until he was old enough to take over. But the interregnum lasted 20 years. "She systematically kept Thutmose out of power", says Michael Höveler-Müller, the curator of Bonn University's Egyptian Museum.
Hatshepsut's perfume is also presumably a demonstration of her power. "We think it probable that one constituent was incense - the scent of the gods", Michael Höveler-Müller declares. This idea is not so wide of the mark, as it is a known fact that in the course of her regency Haptshepsut undertook an expedition to Punt - the modern Eritrea, and the Egyptians had been importing precious goods such as ebony, ivory, gold, and just this incense, from there since the third millennium B.C. Apparently the expedition brought back whole incense plants, which Hatshepsut then had planted in the vicinity of her funerary temple.
World Premier with an interesting Result
The filigree flacon now under examination by the researchers in Bonn bears an inscription with the name of the Pharaoh. Hence it was probably once in her possession. The vessel is exceptionally well preserved. "So we considered it might be rewarding to have it screened in the University Clinic's Radiology Department", Höveler-Müller explains. "As far as I know this has never been done before".
This world premier will now in all probability be followed by another one: "The desiccated residues of a fluid can be clearly discerned in the x-ray photographs", the museum's curator explains. "Our pharmacologists are now going to analyse this sediment". The results could be available in a good year's time. If they are successful, the scientists in Bonn are even hoping to "reconstruct" the perfume so that, 3,500 years after the death of the woman amongst whose possessions it was found, the scent could then be revitalised.
Hatshepsut died in 1457 B.C. Analysis of the mummy ascribed to her showed that the ruler was apparently between 45 and 60 years of age at the end of her life; that she was also overweight, and suffering from diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis. Obviously for reasons of security, she was laid to rest in the tomb of her wet nurse. In 1903, over 3,300 years later, the famous Egyptologist Howard Carter stumbled upon the two mummies. However, more than 100 years were to pass before the Pharaoh's corpse could be identified using DNA and dental analysis in the year 2007. Thutmose III, incidentally, appears not to have shed a single tear for his step-mother, as during his reign he had every image destroyed which showed her as ruler, and which could have belonged to her.
University of Bonn
World Premier with an interesting Result
The filigree flacon now under examination by the researchers in Bonn bears an inscription with the name of the Pharaoh. Hence it was probably once in her possession. The vessel is exceptionally well preserved. "So we considered it might be rewarding to have it screened in the University Clinic's Radiology Department", Höveler-Müller explains. "As far as I know this has never been done before".
This world premier will now in all probability be followed by another one: "The desiccated residues of a fluid can be clearly discerned in the x-ray photographs", the museum's curator explains. "Our pharmacologists are now going to analyse this sediment". The results could be available in a good year's time. If they are successful, the scientists in Bonn are even hoping to "reconstruct" the perfume so that, 3,500 years after the death of the woman amongst whose possessions it was found, the scent could then be revitalised.
Hatshepsut died in 1457 B.C. Analysis of the mummy ascribed to her showed that the ruler was apparently between 45 and 60 years of age at the end of her life; that she was also overweight, and suffering from diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis. Obviously for reasons of security, she was laid to rest in the tomb of her wet nurse. In 1903, over 3,300 years later, the famous Egyptologist Howard Carter stumbled upon the two mummies. However, more than 100 years were to pass before the Pharaoh's corpse could be identified using DNA and dental analysis in the year 2007. Thutmose III, incidentally, appears not to have shed a single tear for his step-mother, as during his reign he had every image destroyed which showed her as ruler, and which could have belonged to her.
University of Bonn
Ancient Egypt Current Events and Ancient Egypt News RSSThe first virtual reality technology to let you see, hear, smell, taste and touch
The first virtual reality headset that can stimulate all five senses will be unveiled at a major science event in London on March 4th.
New Male Circumcision Device for HIV Prevention Studied by NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
With the recent endorsement by the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists worldwide of adult male circumcision as an important strategy for HIV prevention, there is increased urgency to develop safe and cost-effective circumcision services. This is especially the case in Africa where HIV/AIDS continues to spread at an epidemic rate.
Archaeologists find silos and administration center from early Egyptian city
A University of Chicago expedition at Tell Edfu in southern Egypt has unearthed a large administration building and silos that provide fresh clues about the emergence of urban life.
UCLA-Dutch team uncovers Egypt's earliest agricultural settlement
Archaeologists from UCLA and the University of Groningen (RUG) in the Netherlands have found the earliest evidence ever discovered of an ancient Egyptian agricultural settlement, including farmed grains, remains of domesticated animals, pits for cooking and even floors for what appear to be dwellings, the National Geographic Society announced today.
Egyptians, not Greeks were true fathers of medicine
Scientists examining documents dating back 3,500 years say they have found proof that the origins of modern medicine lie in ancient Egypt and not with Hippocrates and the Greeks.
International alliance to unlock secrets of Egyptian mummies
Two world-renowned teams of experts on Egyptian mummies have joined forces in an international effort to better understand disease and its treatment in ancient Egypt.
Invitation to the Media - Environmental Catastrophe Hits London
A major interdisciplinary conference on environmental catastrophes in the recent geological past will be held at Brunel University from 28 August to 2 September 2002. All media are welcome to attend, by prior arrangement with the Conference Organiser (see Further Information). Although the Conference is being promoted by the Geological Society of London, its organisation is separate from the Society and all media enquiries must be made to Dr Iain Stewart.
Pharoah`s ears
"Three years ago, a mummy was unrolled in London, and in its hand was a small bag of Wheat. Some grains of it were sown and vegetated. Its produce has again been sown . . . and has produced an average of 38 ears or spikes for each grain sown. To be sold in packets of 10 grains each at £1 per packet..." In 1843, when The Gardeners` Chronicle ran this ad, the public was crazy about ancient Egypt. And nothing was more fascinating than the notion that "mummy wheat", grain discovered in the tombs of kings-often in model granaries like this one-would spring to life after thousands of years. At £1 a packet, worth £60 today, people were paying for something more than a few stalks o
AMPUTATION AND PROSTHESIS OF THE BIG TOE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
Pathological research of human remains in the cemetery of the capital of ancient Egypt suggests that ancient Egyptians were the pioneers of amputation and prosthetic surgery, conclude investigators in a study published in this week's issue of THE LANCET. Andreas Nerlich and colleagues from Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany, investigated the mummified remains of a woman aged about 50-55 years who died between 1550 and 700 BC. Close examination revealed that her right big toe had been amputated during her lifetime, and replaced with a functional wooden prosthesis; previous research has suggested that prostheses were used only to prepare mummies for the afterlife. Andreas Nerlich c
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