Queen Nefertiti’s Eyeliner

  Queen Nefertiti was married to Amenhotep IV in 1357 BC.  She was known as the “Ruler of the Nile” and “Daughter of Gods”.  She reigned from 1353 – 1336 BC.   Nefertiti had an exceptional amount of power in those days, and is believed to have held equal status to the pharaoh himself.  However, controversy lingers about Nefertiti after the twelfth regal year of Akhenaten, when her name vanishes from the pages of history.  Why am I writing about Queen Nefertiti, you may be thinking?  She actually invented a form of eyeliner from a mineral that contained lead called Galena.  Even though we know that lead in makeup throughout history is bad for you, this type of lead was not. (Bust of Nefertiti – pictured left)

Archaeologists have now found that the Egyptians added lead to their cosmetics on purpose. When an analytical chemist in Paris analyzed the composition of several samples of the Egyptians’ famous bold, black eyeliner, they identified two types of lead salt not found in nature. That means that ancient Egyptians must have synthesized them. But making lead salt is a tricky, delicate process that requires tending for weeks–and unlike other common makeup components, the salts are not glossy. So why did they bother? (Ancient Egyptian Eye Khol pot w/ Applicator – pictured right)

Ancient manuscripts gave the scientists a clue. It turns out that in those days, people made lead salts and used them as treatments for eye ailments, scars, and discolorations. They were intrigued with these findings, because lead is now known to have so many toxic effects.