Egyptian Kohl Pot No.

77

This kohl jar is made from

travertine, which was formerly
known as alabaster. It has a
narrow neck and a wide rim, which
shows signs of modern repair. It
dates to approximately 2000-1200
BC, which means that it is a Middle
Kingdom (2055-1650 BC) piece.
Eye paint (Kohl) was kept in small
jars such as this one or in kohl
tubes. Unlike some kohl jars, this
one does not retain any of the
substance.

Kohl was a lead sulphide called

galena, which had disinfectant and
fly-deterrent properties. Medical
papyri frequently prescribe Kohl
for assorted eye complaints. The
ancient Egyptians also wore kohl
on their eyelids and under their
eyes as protection against the
glare of the sun. Outlining the
eyes could also have been a way of
drawing a personal protective
amulet, such as the Wadjet Eye,
right onto the skin. Kohl was
originally applied using the fingers
but from the Middle Kingdom
(2055-1650 BC) a kohl stick was
used to apply the paste to the
eyes.
Object No. 1958.17.2
To make kohl, the galena was first
ground up on a palette. Water, or
most probably animal fat, was
then added to create a paste that
would adhere to the skin. Soot
may also have been added to the
paste to produce darker coloured
kohl.
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