Cinnamon Unguent
This unguent is
wonderfully soothing, and has a
surprisingly subtle and long-lasting scent, good for both men and women.
Unguents were necessary in the dry climate of ancient Egypt. They did just what our lotions do today: keep skin soft and smooth. The main scent is this unguent is cinnamon, which was a popular spice in the Egypt of the Pharaohs; it was used to anoint both the living and the dead, and burnt as incense.
This recipe was written around 1550 BC. The only alteration was not adding goat's fat, which is a little hard to find and would go rancid with long storage. Also, we discovered that if followed exactly, the recipe yielded a very hard substance; so, we added more oil than was called for. (Perhaps in sunny Egypt the unguent would stay softer, but here in North America it was like a brick!)
"Put myrrh on your head,
Dress in fine linen,
Anoint yourself with oils fit for a god." 1
Ipuwer writes of social chaos:
"Lo, grain is lacking on all sides,
One is stripped of clothes,
Unanointed with oil..." 2
Don't be caught without your trusty unguent!
Notes:
1 The Song from the Tomb of King Intef, Middle Kingdom. Reprinted in Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and New Kingdoms, by Miriam Lichtheim, p. 194.
2 The Admonitions of Ipuwer, Middle Kingdom. Reprinted in Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and New Kingdoms, by Miriam Lichtheim, p. 155.
Customer Reviews:
Unguents were necessary in the dry climate of ancient Egypt. They did just what our lotions do today: keep skin soft and smooth. The main scent is this unguent is cinnamon, which was a popular spice in the Egypt of the Pharaohs; it was used to anoint both the living and the dead, and burnt as incense.
This recipe was written around 1550 BC. The only alteration was not adding goat's fat, which is a little hard to find and would go rancid with long storage. Also, we discovered that if followed exactly, the recipe yielded a very hard substance; so, we added more oil than was called for. (Perhaps in sunny Egypt the unguent would stay softer, but here in North America it was like a brick!)
"Put myrrh on your head,
Dress in fine linen,
Anoint yourself with oils fit for a god." 1
Ipuwer writes of social chaos:
"Lo, grain is lacking on all sides,
One is stripped of clothes,
Unanointed with oil..." 2
Don't be caught without your trusty unguent!
Notes:
1 The Song from the Tomb of King Intef, Middle Kingdom. Reprinted in Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and New Kingdoms, by Miriam Lichtheim, p. 194.
2 The Admonitions of Ipuwer, Middle Kingdom. Reprinted in Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and New Kingdoms, by Miriam Lichtheim, p. 155.
Customer Reviews:
