What Hygiene Was Really Like In Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians had an obsession with cleanliness and a desire to appear aesthetically perfect. The use of makeup and methods of cleaning bodies inspired many of the soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes popularized in later eras. The dark eye makeup and wigs were adopted not only for appearances but also as methods of survival in an area scorched by the sun and an era plagued by insects, vermin, and parasites. Discover ancient Egypt’s hygienic practices.

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1. They shaved their heads to avoid lice
3. Mints and herbs kept their mouths fresh
5. Only the wealthy owned toilets
6. People washed clothing in infested waters
8. The wealthy had indoor baths
10. Cosmetics for aesthetics
11. Toothbrush and toothpaste
12. Sunscreen and moisturizers
13. The wealthy got manicures
14. Food preparation was unsanitary
15. Towers were built to escape mosquitoes
16. Beauty beyond the grave
20. Pregnancy tests used emmer and barley

1. They shaved their heads to avoid lice

Lice tormented ancient Egyptians so badly, people removed all their hair using knives, razors, and tweezers. They wore wigs, with the wealthy able to own several which they’d dispose of if infested with lice.

Ancient Egyptians made use of plants and other natural substances to keep their body odor in check. They ground herbs, flowers, and roots into a paste, then combined those with oil to make a cream to apply to their armpits. Women even added scents to wax which they spread on their head as a sort of diffuser.

3. Mints and herbs kept their mouths fresh

Egyptians always had access to methods of relieving bad breath. They chewed on herbs like parsley during the day or after meals. They also had breath mints. These mints were combined fragrant spices and herbs, such as cinnamon and frankincense, with cashews and pine seeds. They used honey to bind the ingredients together before using fire to form candies.

Inscriptions found in temples and tombs seemed to point to the fact that uncircumcised men were not allowed to enter, as they were deemed impure. It may have started as a desire for cleanliness but the practice evolved into rituals involving religious ideas.

5. Only the wealthy owned toilets

Wealthy Egyptians owned seats made of limestone. It sat on top of a box filled with sand. Someone had the unfortunate job of emptying these seats. The remaining number of people used the Nile as their bathroom. The river everyone used to drink, bathe, and wash their clothes in. They were strict with hygiene but neglected proper sanitation. Which meant…

6. People washed clothing in infested waters

Clothing was usually made from linen and because the fabric’s color was white, garments showed dirt very easily. This required laundry to be done more often. The wealthy hired others to do their laundry with the use of special facilities. Lower classes had to use the Nile.

Using oil as a base, fragrant spices and herbs including cardamom, mint, and juniper were added to create a variety of scents. A perfume called kyphi became the most prized and expensive of perfumes. The lower class could not afford perfumes so they ground and combined roots, herbs, and flowers to make less expensive fragrances.

8. The wealthy had indoor baths

The wealthiest Egyptians had built-in baths in their homes. They would stand on a stone slab, then bathers had basins or jugs full of water poured on them by their servants. The lower classes, which was most of Egyptian society, bathed themselves in the Nile itself.

Doctors who were also priests encouraged the use of purgatives or laxatives to help clean the intestines. Laxatives were believed to help rid the body of disease hence the practice. They used castor oil to force waste out of the body.

10. Cosmetics for aesthetics

After smoothing their skin with oils and face masks of honey or aloe, Egyptians applied eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner. Eyeliner was a beauty statement. The kohl people used it to line their eyes which also protected their eyes from the sun’s glare and repelled flies.

11. Toothbrush and toothpaste

Ancient Egyptians ground salt, flowers, and mint into a powder to clean their teeth. They brushed this over their teeth using their fingers, which would mix with saliva to form a paste. Egyptians created a toothbrush using a stick bound with thin strips of plants as bristles with historians finding evidence of dental practices as well.

12. Sunscreen and moisturizers

Ancient Egyptians made the effort preserve their skin, what with Egypt being hot and sunny. People applied animal byproducts such as tallow, which helped moisturize skin due to the fat content. Plant products like linseed or castor oil and added honey helped diminish scars.

13. The wealthy got manicures

The upper class and royalty hired manicurists, who used files and small knives to trim and clean their toenails and fingernails. Manicurists held a special place in society and even labeled their tombs with their job title after they passed.

14. Food preparation was unsanitary

The Nile created fertile soil for growing food along its banks. However, disease and other contaminants often came into contact with the soil and food. The lower class prepared food in open air rooms or on the roof where vermin could easily access their prepared meals.

15. Towers were built to escape mosquitoes

Residents would build towers for their sleeping rooms since the wind prevented mosquitoes from flying high enough to infiltrate the barrier. Egypt was plagued with mosquitoes and other preventative tasks included wrapping themselves in a net as they slept.

16. Beauty beyond the grave

Hair implements as well as entire cosmetic sets were buried with their rightful owner as if to serve a purpose in the afterlife. Ornate hairpins and wide-tooth combs made of ivory and silver as well as bronze tweezers to shape the eyebrows and gold razors were also found in abundance. Highly polished copper mirrors with intricate elegant handles were placed under the heads of the deceased or in front of their faces as well.

The Egyptians fed their laborers a diet rich in onion, garlic, and radish to secure the production of their magnificent monuments. These vegetables are extremely rich in allistatin, allicin, and raphanin. Powerful antibiotics that aided in the prevention of disease in crowded working conditions. Doctors fed their visually impaired patients with powdered liver, which is rich in Vitamin A, a vital nutrient for vision.

The Ebers Medical Papyrus, which dates back to 1500 BC, states that Egyptians formed a soap-like material using alkaline salts in addition to vegetable and animals fats. This substance aided in treating skin diseases. The Ebers Papyrus includes 877 prescriptions as well as the earliest documented awareness of tumors.

The most stylish women in ancient Egypt enjoyed wearing beads, ribbons, flowers or jewelry to show off. They used combs made from fish bones and colored their grey hair with henna. Almond oil was applied to keep their locks moisturized.

20. Pregnancy tests used emmer and barley

Women physicians tested fertility by requiring a woman to urinate on a combination of barley and emmer (a type of wheat cultivated by ancient Egyptians). If neither the barley nor the emmer grew, she was not pregnant. If the barely grew, she was pregnant with a boy, while emmer meant it was a girl. This test is fairly effective as modern researchers have discovered.

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