The colour industry in ancient Egypt

When we enter the ancient Egyptian tombs, we are always surprised because of the accuracy of the inscription that has passed centuries, not only the inscription but the bright fixed colours that were coloured only from a few days ago. The art of making colours is one of the interesting secrets of our great civilization
Where when analyzing the colours that are found on the walls of the temples, it was discovered that most of them were prepared industrially by mixing minerals, stones and chemical compounds, and this indicates the strength of the Egyptians in the science of chemistry since the dawn of history
And the colours were not only for adornment and beauty, but each colour had use and meaning, and among the most important colours (blue – red – white – black – yellow – green-brown)
And we will review the meaning of those colours and what they were made of:
– blue:
The blue colour is sacred in Egyptian civilization because it symbolizes the Nile and the sky and symbolizes reproduction.
And the Egyptian blue colour is distinctive so far. Upon analysis, it was discovered that it is made up of the mineral (copy rorifite), which is a mixture of (copper and calcium silicate) and is prepared by heating and then oxidation in addition to a quantity of sodium carbonate or sodium sulfate, salt of natron and potash as magma materials. The difference in the concentration of the components was given blue shades of dark, light and medium.
-the Red:
The red colour was used as a sign of the king and a sign of victory, and it is the colour of the pure birth blood of Isis
The red colour was made from hematite, i.e. red iron oxide or red ocher, as it is famous in Egypt, in addition to mixing hot concentrated corundum and at high temperatures, where the light colour of the other turns into a darker colour. There was another way, which is heating yellow ocher at high temperatures. Until it turns red
-the White
The white colour was the colour of religion and included deities, priests, and religious rituals such as the pilgrimage to Abydos.
And the white colour was formed from more than one substance, including gypsum and a mixture with animal glue and through limestone and the extraction of calcium carbonate from it resulting from the transformation of calcium hydroxide into calcium carbonate by the action of carbon dioxide. It is worth mentioning what the scientist (Reisner) said that the ancient Egyptians had They used a white mineral substance known as (Hontite), which is composed of (calcium and magnesium carbonate), and this use was common in the era of the modern state
-the black
The black colour was a sign of evil, and it was a symbol of the god Sitt, the god of evil.
And the black was made from soot, i.e. soot resulting from burning, or from a dish of animal charcoal and mixing it with glue and egg white.
-yellow
Through the yellow colour of the sun, gold, and women’s bodies, it was a vibrant colour that represented activity and movement.
It was made of yellow ocher found in sandstones, and it consists of (hydrous iron oxide, calcite, silica and clay minerals).
-the green
The green colour represented growth and goodness, and it was the colour of the god Osiris, and it was widely used in murals to colour the fields and trees.
It is made of more than one mineral, which is malachite, which consists of basic copper carbonate. It is found in the upper parts of the oxide region of copper veins with minerals (azurite, cuprite, iron oxides and copper sulfides). Malachite is characterized by a large degree of chemical stability, but it interacts with strong and weak acids and darkens colour when heated
-Brown
The brown colour expressed the fertility of the land and the complexion of the Nuba people.
And it was made from clay, that is, silt and brown ocher, which consists of gypsum oxide and red iron by heating.
One of the common materials for mixing the colours was water, oil, glue and egg white.
Despite our knowledge of all these details, a practical experience did not succeed to a large extent, as our ancestors succeeded in it, and the secret remains with them.
Resources
1- Ancient Egyptian art d: Anwar Shoukry
2- Practical methods of restoring antiquities, Dr.: Said Abdel Hamid
ancient Egyptian colour palette
1- Palettes of five colours were found in the tomb of the vizier of King Amenhotep II in the era of the modern state
2- The colours are made up of 6 colours and date back to the era of the king ❤❤ Amenhotep III, the era of the modern state, and it is possible that it was for one of the painters of the royal palace, and we see the name of the king engraved on it
(Neb Maat Ra)