Ancient Egyptian Herbal (Revised and Expanded edition)

The ancient Egyptians were highly skilled in the use of herbs and spices for medicines, cooking, cosmetics, perfumes and many other purposes. This work provides an account of the plants' special properties, with recipes for cosmetics and cures. It discusses the uses the ancient Egyptians made of herbs and flowers, and the importance of plants.

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The ancient Egyptians were highly skilled in the use of herbs and spices for medicines, cooking, cosmetics, perfumes and many other purposes. Drawing on texts written by the Egyptians and their neighbours, and on works by classical authors and the Copts, Lise Manniche has reconstructed an herbal of 94 species of plants and trees used from before the pharaohs to the Coptic period. Each plant is named in Latin and English and, where known, in ancient Egyptian, Greek and modern Arabic. An account is given of the plants' special properties, with authentic recipes for cosmetics and cures. In her introduction, the author discusses the many uses the ancient Egyptians made of herbs and flowers, and the importance of plants for funerary and festive occasions. This updated edition includes an expanded introduction with information from the latest analyses from the Louvre and L'Oreal laboratories on the use of 'wet chemistry' in the preparation of cosmetics, and additional material on temple perfume, exotic scents, the late use of roses, and kyphi and tiryac.