5 ancient Egyptian inventions we still use
-
Raven Ruma
- . February 3, 2023
- . Update: February 4, 2023 2:25 pm
One of the world’s oldest and longest-lasting civilisations, the ancient Egyptians have been fascinating professional as well as amateur historians for centuries. The cultures that built up along the Nile River still influence the modern world.
Their physical legacy includes complex temples and necropolises, mummified remains and burial chambers, and hundreds of pyramids.
But these physical remains aren’t the only witness to their remarkable civilisation. Scores of ancient Egyptian inventions concerning a diverse range of areas, including astronomy, mathematics, religion, and philosophy, still have an impact on the way we live today.
Read on to find five such ancient Egyptian inventions we still use.
• Papyrus
The versatile papyrus plant has a stem that can be used to make the earliest writing surfaces.
While the Chinese are known for inventing paper, a number of researchers believe Egyptians may have actually taken the lead. Compared to the paper known to have been used between 206 BCE and 220 CE, papyrus – a thicker material than paper – was being used by the Egyptians far earlier, around 2900 BCE.
Nevertheless, both materials might seem physically similar but have different production methods.
• Ink
According to researchers, Egyptians invented ink roughly 4,500 years ago, at around the same time as the Chinese. Natural substances, such as iron, quartz, and malachite, were added to Egyptian ink to produce different colours.
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• Makeup
In addition to writing, ancient Egyptians also used pigments and colour to beautify themselves. Kohl, apart from being used to beautify the eyes, was also thought to improve vision, while keeping the eyes clean and cool.
Ancient Egyptians were known for using green eyeshadow to make their eyes appear larger. Animal fat was used for making lipstick and blusher, and even making perfume last longer.
Natural resins and plants like lavender and chamomile were used to make scented oils and perfumes.
• Toothpaste
Egyptians used ingredients like ash, ground eggshell, rock salt, mint, and dried iris flowers to make toothpaste. Papyrus documents also enlist remedies for treating a variety of dental problems, including loose teeth.
• Hair Gel
Apart from being used as a base for makeup, animal fat was also utilised by ancient Egyptians as an early version of hair gel.
