Perfume in the ancient Middle East and Egypt

This video, made in Egypt, is called Cairo museum.

Dr Halbertsma continued his lecture on perfume in antiquity, saying it came originally from Arabia and other Asian countries, and was exported to Europe from there.

Already about 1780 BCE, there was a cuneiform inscription from a king in Mesopotamia on perfume.

Much perfume was produced in Egypt.

It was stored in vessels made in the oldest glass production technique, the core glass technique.

Mostly little bottles, as this production technique was expensive.

Root of iris was used much in Egyptian perfume production.

Other plants used were Citrullus colocynthis, and horseradish.

Also olive, and palm wine contributed to perfumes.

In ancient Israel, cinnamon was used in perfume.

Also myrrh; and nard, named in the Song of Solomon in the Bible.

Perfume was produced in Jerusalem; but also near the Dead Sea, mixing in local minerals.

For instance, near what is today Ein Bokek.

Not far away, at Ein Gedi, there is still, or again, perfume production today.

‘Ramses II’s canopic jars‘ in the Louvre museum prove to be unguent jars.

Ancient perfume in Cyprus: here.

Masada in Israel: here.

Archaeology in Israel: here. And here.

Perfume from the ancient Orient to the Roman empire

Today was the last lecture in a series of four lectures, connected to the Glass in antiquity exhibition; on the last day of that exhibition.

This one was not really about the glass vessels themselves, but about their contents; like perfume, balm, or wine.

The lecture was by Ruurd Halbertsma of the Greco-Roman department of the museum.

Introducing Dr Halbertsma, the director of the museum said that, while preparing the vessels for the exhibition, in some of them substances were found which might be ancient and interesting.

However, it turned one of those had been used for an olive oil ad ten years ago.

In the other ones, the substance proved to be sand.

Perfume, Dr Halbertsma said, played a big role in economies and societies of antiquity.

It was linked, eg, to the importance of bodily care in Roman culture.

The Romans had thermae for bathing built all over their empire, and vessels of perfume went along to them.

Cosmetics played a big role in antiquity.

Some people had their faces bleached with white-lead, to show off that they did not have to work in the blazing sun.

Malachite was used for black lines around the eyes.

Fragmented pumice was used for brushing teeth.

Perfume had various functions.

First, in religions.

The images of deities were often anointed.

During ceremonies, the faithful were often anointed.

The dead were often embalmed, like in ancient Egyptian mummies.

Second, in medicine.

Oil, perfume, were often used as medicine.

Third, for cosmetics.

When this cosmetic use is stressed especially, it may pass into category four: seduction.

Especially this fourth category brought perfume much opposition from moralist authors, religions, and governments.

There was no distilled alcohol in antiquity.

Most perfume was based on olive oil.

As much perfume would look brownish, so not very attractive, various substances were added to colour it.

Including Rubia tinctorum for a red colour.

This blog will go on with the other parts of Dr Halbertsma’s lecture on perfume; so, stay tuned.

Protest against US military attack on Iraqi trade unions

This video from Indymedia in the USA is called The attack on Basra is an attack on Labor.

From LabourStart:

Iraq: Raid on trade union offices

On 23 February 2007, US and Iraqi forces raided the head offices of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW), the country’s national trade union center.

They arrested one of the union’s security staff (later released unharmed), destroyed furniture, and confiscated a computer and fax machine.

And then they did it again two days later, causing further damage to the union headquarters.

The union is condemning the attacks as unprovoked.

It is calling on the occupation forces to issue a written apology, to return all the seized property, and to pay compensation for damages caused.

Please show your support by sending off the message below.

You can help! Type in your name and email address, then click on ‘Send Message’ on the bottom of this page.

See also here.

4,5 million Iraqi children malnourished: here.

Protest against banning pro peace demonstration in South Korea

From Green Left Weekly in Australia:

Anti-war protest banned in South Korea

3 March 2007

The South Korean anti-war movement is appealing for support in its campaign demanding the right to hold an anti-war demonstration on March 17, as part of the global weekend of action on the anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The government has banned the protest.

Korean Action against Dispatch of Troops to Iraq, an anti-war coalition comprising 351 organisations, is calling on international anti-war and pro-democracy groups to send letters of protest to, and organise demonstrations outside of, the South Korean consulate or embassy in your country.

Messages of solidarity can be sent to antipabyeong@empal.com.

More extensively on this in this press release.

US-South Korea trade deal: here.

12 year old child dies of poverty in the USA

From Green Left Weekly in Australia:

Poverty kills 12-year-old in US

3 March 2007

On February 25, 12-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache in Maryland.

A simple tooth extraction could have saved his life, but by the time he received medical attention a tooth infection had spread to his brain.

Driver’s family did not have private health insurance and their Medicaid coverage had expired.

Even with Medicaid, many people have to travel several hours to find a dentist willing to treat them — just 900 of the state’s 5500 dentists accept Medicaid patients.

Figures show that fewer than one-third of children in Maryland’s Medicaid program received any dental care during 2005.

More extensively on this case in the Washington Post.

Children in poverty in Britain: here.