In 1814, archaeologists were excavating the ruins of Pompeii when they stumbled upon a blue pigment in a pot in an artist’s shop. It was a momentous discovery, and a sample was sent to Humphry Davy, a British chemist at the Royal Institution in London, for analysis.
The origin of this pigment was traced back to ancient Egypt, and today, it’s known as Egyptian blue. Scientifically called calcium copper silicate, Egyptian blue is the oldest synthetic pigment known in history. This vibrant blue color adorned sculptures, tombs, and temples of ancient cultures in Egypt, Greece, Assyria, Mesopotamia, and Rome. Throughout history, it has captivated people, symbolizing everything from the divine to the ingenuity of ancient people.
So how did the ancient Egyptians manufacture Egyptian blue? What was the color’s significance? How did the color disappear, and why are modern scientists interested in the pigment?
A brief history of Egyptian blue in ancient Egypt
The earliest known evidence of Egyptian blue use dates back to the Egyptian Fourth Dynasty (4,500 years ago). Some researchers believe its manufacture dates back to more than 5,000 years (around 3000 BCE).
Excavations in ancient Egypt have shown that the pigment was used to adorn statues, sarcophagi, temple and tomb paintings, and various cylinder seals and beads. This use continued during the Middle Kingdom (2050-1652 BCE) and the New Kingdom (1570-1070 BCE).
The temples of the famous King Akhenaten, the renowned crown of his wife Nefertiti, and the famous mural from the Tomb of Nebamun in Thebes are notable examples that owe their striking appearance to Egyptian blue.
Why was blue significant in Ancient Egyptian culture
Blue was sacred because it represented the cycle of life, the heavens, and the life-giving waters of the River Nile. So it was deemed fit that the gods, deities, and rulers of Ancient Egypt, who held an elevated and sacred position in their society, be depicted in a holy color. However, ancient artists had problems depicting their gods in sculptures, wall paintings, and tomb sarcophagi. They couldn’t use readily available color pigments such as black, red, brown, and yellow, which could be easily extracted from ores or soil. These colors were deemed too low to depict revered gods and rulers.
Another big problem was that blue pigment was rare and expensive. You’ll rarely see blue in prehistoric paintings because blue is quite rare in nature, apart from the ocean and the sky. Few blue minerals exist; those available aren’t easy to turn into blue colorants and are chemically unstable.
The discovery and composition of Egyptian blue
Before ancient Egyptians and Assyrians found the stable Egyptian blue pigment, several attempts were made to create the color from natural minerals, such as lapis lazuli and azurite, and plant extracts, such as indigo (used to dye jeans in modern times).
However, these attempts had several shortcomings. First, lapis lazuli had to be imported from Afghanistan, and the extraction process produced only small amounts of the purest colorants, making them quite expensive and rare. On the other hand, azurite pigment (a weathered form of copper carbonate) is unstable and turns into green malachite when exposed to air over time. Lastly, plant blue pigments didn’t last long when exposed to sunlight.
The race to produce a stable blue colorant led to the invention of calcium copper silicate. It was made through a precise combination of copper, calcium compounds, silica sands, and fluxes. These components were then heated to certain degrees (850°C to 950°C) to produce the long-lasting and magnificent blue that’s awed people for generations.
More interestingly, ancient Egyptians could get different hues of blue by tweaking the process. They used a coarse pigment to produce a dark blue color and a finely ground pigment to obtain an exquisite lighter color.
Spread and influence across cultures
The knowledge and use of Egyptian blue eventually spread beyond Egypt. It spread throughout the Mediterranean and has been used in notable places in ancient Greece and Rome. Researchers say that the Parthenon sculptures in Greece were originally brightly colored, and one of those colors was blue. Similarly, the walls of the excavated city of Pompeii in Rome show the use of blue pigment by Roman artists and sculptors.
Other excavations in several archaeological sites in Crete, Cyprus, and Italy also showcase the widespread use of Egyptian blue.
Unfortunately, the technology of manufacturing the ethereal Egyptian blue color disappeared with the fall of the Roman Empire. It disappeared from widespread use around A.D. 660, and the recipe is lost in history. After its disappearance, artists turned to natural pigments and ultramarine blue extracted from lapis lazuli. At one point during the Renaissance, ultramarine was more expensive than gold and thus was only reserved for iconic representations of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
After the disappearance of the Egyptian blue recipe, it took more than 1,000 years for another synthetic blue pigment to be discovered. This time, it was accidentally discovered by a Berlin paint maker in the early 1700s while trying to make a red pigment. Today, this color is known as Prussian blue.
Rediscovery of Egyptian blue and its modern application
As mentioned, Egyptian blue was rediscovered in the ruins of Pompeii in the early 19th century. Modern scientific techniques have allowed researchers to study the pigment’s composition in greater detail and reproduce the color for artistic purposes.
More interestingly, the pigment’s luminescence properties have inspired modern applications. Scientists see potential pigment uses in advanced biomedical imaging, telecommunications, and security inks to improve security and crime detection.
In conclusion, the journey of Egyptian blue shows the enduring legacy of human invention. From its early invention in Dynastic Egypt, its influence on Greco-Roman art, and modern scientific applications, this historic hue continues to fascinate and inspire.
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