Description

This attractive serpentine container was used for storing the popular eye-liner, kohl.  The sides incurve from a high shoulder to a flat base with a small foot. The wide rim that encircles the aperture is a separate piece. The interior drilling is very narrow and ends in a point.  The pot retains carefully fitted matching flat lid, 909.80.163B.

Ancient Egyptian eye make-up may have had some health benefits.  Most obviously, eye-shadow might have helped to dull the glare of sharp sunlight.  The lead in galena used for black kohl may have helped to deter insect infestations of the eyes, and the copper in the malachite green eye-paint has some slight anti-bacterial qualities.  Whatever the  health benefits, eye-liner and eye-shadow were popular with both sexes at all periods of Egyptian history.