KOHL
An ancient cosmetic depicted lining the eyes and faces of ancient Egyptian and Kushite men, women, and even death masks on tomb reliefs for centuries. From carbon dating and testing of kohl discovered in since excavated sarcophagi, we know that the ancient cosmetic was more than just a beauty secret that gave these ancients their alluring stare. Since its discovery, archaelogists have found medicinal properties in samples of the kohl. Related scripts and ancient texts pair it with beliefs that the cosmetic worn around the eye will ward off the "evil eye." Researchers testing low levels of lead salts found in the kohl discovered that the salts contained nitric oxide, an immune boosting chemical that wards off disease-causing bacteria. This may have also protected the eyes of ancient Egyptians and Kushites from the sun and conjuctivitis related to marshy conditions along the Nile. Artifacts, documents, and paintings demonstrate that men, women, royals, and even servants donned kohl. Perhaps a lining of kohl a day kept the doctor away.
Photo credit: Brittanica: A painting of Queen Nefertari found in the queen's tomb.
For more info: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/news/2010/01/100114-cleopatra-eye-makeup-ancient-egyptians&ved=2ahUKEwiG5d71x-zcAhXquFkKHcNOCUIQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3DIBdniVbuOyPPkkOVfkoA&cf=1
#Egypt #Kush #ofcaptivityandkings #royal#KingdomofKush #king #Nabara #gold#Sudan #books #bookstagram #ancient#Meroë #Egypt #history #goddess#HistoricalFiction #reading #write #author#booklover #kindle #blackhistory#readersofinstagram #kohl #makeup#beauty #cosmetic #eyes