Judging by the carefully preserved tombs and the eye makeup and clean linen clothes depicted in hieroglyphs, hygiene seems to have been important to ancient Egyptian society. While the Egyptians were indeed obsessed with cleanliness and longed to look perfect, the methods they used to beautify and clean themselves were limited to the ones they had to use. Many of the things in modern society associated with the ancient Egyptians, such as dark circles makeup and wigs, are not only for appearance, but also to survive in an area that is scorched by the sun and infested with insects, pests and parasites.
Due to the lack of sanitation and other modern amenities, societies like ancient Egypt had to become creative and resourceful to survive. The Egyptians' use of cosmetics and the methods of washing the body inspired the later popularity of soaps, cosmetics and perfumes. The biggest variable in the quality of life of the ancient Egyptians was social class. Whether it was having toilets or having to bathe in crocodile-infested rivers, the ancient Egyptians had a large number of hygiene habits that made their society unique.
Both men and women shave their heads to prevent lice
Parasites like lice severely afflicted the ancient Egyptians, who took extreme measures to prevent them from surviving on their bodies. To limit lice survival, people shave off their hair with knives, razors and forceps. They wear wigs made of human or horse hair on their bare heads. The rich usually have several different styles that can be worn on different occasions. If the lice successfully parasitize on the wig, it can be easily thrown away.
In hot weather, wigs are also used as a way to stay cool. However, since lower-income earners could not afford beautiful wigs, people in lower society often wore headscarves instead of wigs, or made wig-like works out of papyrus paper. Despite these efforts, no one can get rid of this problem completely; The researchers found several lice-infested mummies.
They use deodorants to suppress body odor
Unable to use "secrets," the ancient Egyptians turned to plants and other natural substances to suppress body odor. They ground herbs, flowers and rhizomes into a paste, mixed with oil, and made a paste to apply to the armpits. Historians have found that the deodorant's formulation required nuts, broken turtle shells, ostrich eggs, and a mixture of porridge and resin.
Deodorants are not only used in the armpits; Some women add a fragrance to the wax and apply it to the head. When the sun and heat melt the wax, the smell is released like a pristine diffuser. While many of these original deodorants are odorless, some recipes incorporate cinnamon or frankincense to obtain a pleasant odor.
Mints and chewed vanilla keep the breath fresh
Because fresh breath was important to the ancient Egyptians, they made sure they always had a way to ease their breath. They often chew herbs such as parsley during the day or after meals.
The Egyptians also used the equivalent of breathing mints, and they either made it themselves or bought it prefabricated. Peppermint is a blend of aromatic spices and herbs such as cinnamon and frankincense, as well as cashews and pine nuts. Honey combines these ingredients and then heats them with fire to form a candy. Historians believe that some of the plates found in ancient Egyptian homes may have been confectionery plates used to store mints.
Men circumcise for the sake of cleanliness
There are a number of historical examples of circumcision in ancient Egyptian culture, including sculptures and images on tomb walls. Although the practice may continue for other reasons, some historians believe that the practice was originally motivated by a desire for cleanliness. Inscriptions found in temples and tombs have led researchers to believe that uncircumcised men are not allowed to enter because they are considered unclean.
Eventually, this practice evolved into a ritual involving religious thought. While circumcision only affects men, women also have their own rituals of cleanliness and health. Many women have developed the practice of hair removal, either by shaving or experimenting with other natural ways of hair removal. Women believe this practice helps drive away lice and fleas.
It is convenient for people to be outdoors because only the rich have toilets
Many of the toilet seats owned by wealthy Egyptians were made of limestone. The stone was placed on a box filled with sand, and someone unfortunately emptied the box. Those who can't afford these luxuries often untie themselves in holes dug outdoors. Many people use the Nile as their bathroom, despite the fact that people also use the water of the Nile to drink, bathe and wash their clothes.
Since the ancient Egyptians did not have a sewage treatment system, garbage and other garbage often piled up in pits, open fields or canals, polluting the rivers and fields where people grew food. Despite the Egyptians' efforts to pursue cleanliness, many lives are claimed every year by diseases caused by unhygienic environments and pests, parasites and insects.
For health and aesthetics, use cosmetics every day
Since cosmetics have other benefits in addition to beauty, both men and women in ancient Egypt used cosmetics. After smoothing the skin with essential oils and honey or aloe vera masks, people apply eyeshadow, mascara and eyeliner. The popularity of eyeliner is not just as a beauty statement; People who apply eyeshadow also use eyeshadow to protect their eyes from sunlight and to repel flies.
To make these cosmetics, natural elements such as malachite and galena are ground into powders, mixed with fat to make cream, and then the cosmetics are stored in jars. The rich owned decorative jars made of high-quality materials, while the lower classes used simple, inexpensive materials to make cosmetic containers.
They use laxatives and enemas to purify the body
As the elaborate mummification process shows, the ancient Egyptians were curious about corpses and struggled to learn more about human health. While many doctors also play the role of pastors, often attributing illness to offending God, doctors also practice medicine. They encourage the use of laxatives to help cleanse the intestines.
Many Egyptians take laxatives three days a month, believing that laxatives can help the body get rid of disease. They use castor oil to force waste out of their bodies, even when trying to treat diarrhea. Egyptians also used enemas to clean their interiors and asked the original proctologist to examine their anus.
Only very wealthy people have indoor bathing facilities
Egyptians bathe or shower on average once a day; However, the methods they use depend on their social class. The richest Egyptians had places to bathe. The bather stood on a stone slab and asked the servants to pour on them a basin or pot filled with water brought from the Nile. Some upper-class families use foot baths made of wood, stone, or ceramics, and because many people don't wear shoes, they use foot baths to wash their feet.
The Egyptians used a natural substance called a somatobaline as a soap and applied plenty of moisturizers after bathing to keep the skin soft. Members of the lower classes, including most of Egyptian society, bathed in the Nile.
Perfumes are made with a variety of ingredients
The ancient Egyptians valued the good smell of smell and created various perfumes to help them achieve this. Using oil as a base, people add aromatic spices and herbs, including cardamom, peppermint and juniper. Perfumes sometimes use foreign ingredients, using fragrances imported from the surrounding area. A perfume called kyphi became the most precious and expensive perfume in ancient Egypt, and it was a symbol of wealth.
People in lower society couldn't afford most perfumes, so they sometimes grinded and mixed roots, herbs, and flowers to make less expensive perfumes. In addition to wearing perfumes, the Egyptians also made incense cones from the same aromatic materials, which they burned for themselves and the gods.
People wash their clothes in parasitic water
Although for most of Egyptian history people wore very little clothing, in later periods people's wardrobes were larger and required to be worn clean. Clothes are usually made of linen. Because the cloth is white, the clothes are easily dirty. This requires frequent laundry, which is not an easy job. To remove dirt, clothing must be tapped, rinsed, twisted and soaked by hand; Because of the heavy workload, the Egyptians gave the work of washing clothes to men.
The rich hire people to wash clothes and use special facilities, while the lower classes had to rely on the Nile to wash their clothes. Many people also use the river to dump garbage and defecate, so the river is full of parasites and other things that cause disease. Doing laundry in the river also means that there is a risk of being injured or killed by hippos or lurking crocodiles.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental work are all used on the teeth
To clean their teeth, the ancient Egyptians ground natural materials such as salt, flowers and mint into powder. When they brush it on their teeth with their fingers, it mixes with saliva into a paste. The Egyptians eventually invented a toothbrush that used a stick tied to thin strips of plants as bristles.
While the Egyptians didn't need to worry about substances like sugar corroding their teeth, the large amount of sand meant they often had sand in their mouths, which helped wear out their teeth. Historians have found evidence of dental practice, including fillings and fixing loose teeth with splints. Several mummies also made bridges with teeth other than their own, but it is difficult to tell whether these bridges were completed before or after the mummy's death.
The rich hire someone to fix their manicure
The wealthiest Egyptians hired others to make their nails look healthy and clean. The upper classes and royalty hired manicurists who used files and knives to trim and clean their toenails and nails. Manicurists have a special status in society, and after their death they will be marked with a work title prominently on the grave. People also used a primitive form of nail polish that dyed their nails orange and yellow with henna.
While they don't have the money to hire people to take care of their hands and feet, the lower classes don't have to live in dirty, tattered nails. Historians believe that members of the lower classes may have used cheaper tools to care for their nails and toenails in a similar way. Regardless of the class, it's important to take care of your feet, as most people are barefoot and need to use creams and ointments to prevent their feet from cracking or attracting insects.
They apply sunscreen and moisturizer after bathing
Since Egypt was a sunny and hot place, the ancient Egyptians took great care to protect their skin. After bathing, people use animal by-products, such as animal fats that are high in fat, to help moisturize the skin. They also use plant products such as flaxseed or castor oil and add honey to help reduce the appearance of scars and maintain a youthful appearance.
Many of the ingredients the Egyptians used in their creams could be used as sunscreens, along with the added benefit of repelling insects such as sandflies. The wealthy can buy pre-made creams and oils at the market, while those who can't afford it can make their own at home with readily available ingredients.
Prepare food on the floor, using contaminated water
The ancient Egyptians relied on the Nile in many ways, including bathing and drinking water. Since the Nile often floods, it also creates fertile soil to grow food on its banks. However, since many people use the fields and the Nile itself as baths, disease and other pollution are often in contact with soil and food.
In lower-class households, this food contamination also includes cooking on the floor, such as grinding grain to make bread. If there is no kitchen in the home, people prepare food in open-air rooms or on the roof, and pests often haunt the home or where food is stored. As soon as people finished eating, they washed dishes with the dirty Nile water and threw their garbage outdoors.
They built towers to hide from mosquitoes
Ancient Egypt was plagued by mosquitoes, and local residents took steps to prevent themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes. In some cases, those who live in the "upper part of the swamp" will build towers around their bedrooms, because in this way, the wind will prevent mosquitoes from flying high enough to penetrate into the barrier.
Other precautions include wrapping yourself in a net while sleeping. Apparently, everyone catches fishing with their nets during the day and wraps them around the bed at night and sleeps under them. When mosquitoes are still trying to bite through linen and cloth, they will set aside the mosquito net.
Women use embers and barley to detect pregnancy
Female doctors use early pregnancy tests to detect fertility, which requires urinating on a mixture of barley and ash. Barley and embers are not pregnant if they do not grow; If the child grows up, she is pregnant with a boy; If the embers grow, she will give birth to a girl.
In fact, this test is quite effective. In the late 20th century, researchers tried to validate the technique, finding that in tests performed on pregnant women, more than half saw barley or embers growing; Every test performed by men or women who are not pregnant finds no growth.
While this wasn't the only fertility testing method used in ancient Egypt, it was probably one of the most effective.