Ancient Egypt

Fashion

4/24/2013

Nicole Holmes

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Table of contents

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………..2

Ancient Egyptian Clothing………………………………………………………………………..2

Ancient Egypt Jewelry……………………………………………………………………………….3

Ancient Egyptian Makeup………………………………………………………………………….4

Ancient Egyptian Hair…………………………………………………………………………………5

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………6

Glossary……………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………………..7

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Fashion was a big and important part of ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptian

fashion was very different from ours today. In this paper you will learn about

clothing, jewelry, makeup and hairstyles.

In ancient Egypt clothing was very different from ours today. Most

Egyptians dressed in loose white linen kilts or dresses. Flowers called flax gave

everyone linen clothes. Rich people would wear nice linen. A pharaoh would wear

fine linen. Workers would wear clothes of fabric. Poor women would wear linen

dresses. Also poor men would wear linen loincloths. Papyrus and other reeds

were the most common materials for sandals. Also Poor Egyptians wore sandals

made of papyrus or woven grass. Priests were only allowed to wear Reed Sandals.

That’s why clothing was so different from ours.

Here is a picture of

ancient Egyptians wearing linen. Most ancient Egyptians wore linen.

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The ancient Egyptians loved jewelry. Necklaces were used mostly by rich

people. Also they were made of special metals like gold and silver. They were

adorned with colored glass, beads and special stones. Colorful collars were worn

for banquets and other special occasions. They were made of glass beads,

flowers, berries and leaves. Finger rings were carved like a scarab beetle. The

side underneath was a carved with a name or good luck. Men and women wore

earrings. The Cowrie Shell is a lucky belt. It is made of a mixture of gold and silver.

Also it has beads, carnelian, amethyst, lapis lazuli and turquoise. It shows that the

person wearing it can have children. Vests were worn around the chest. It was

usually made of gold or metal. Even when vest were made of cheap materials,

they would paint it yellow to give it an impression of gold. If you were in ancient

Egypt at that time you would see a lot of people wearing that jewelry.

Ancient Egyptians believed that if you had a

fish amulet you wouldn’t drown. Some

people had them so they wouldn’t drown.

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In ancient Egypt a lot of people wore makeup. Makeup was made from

mineral pigments mixed with animal fat. Women and Men would wear eye paint.

The Egyptians used black and green paints. Black eye paint came from powdered

galena. Egyptians put on eye paint with a finger or a little stick. They would use

applicators to put on powders. Eye liner was made of coal. Egyptians women

used henna to color their lips and nails. They also painted their lips redish,

orangeish and yellowish mixed with oil or fat. There was a lot of makeup at that

time.

Rich and poor Egyptians wore makeup.

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In ancient Egypt not everyone had the same hairstyles. Rich and poor

Egyptians wore wigs. The best wigs were made from human hair. Poorer wigs

were made from wool or plant fibers. Most Egyptians did not have long hair, but

their wigs could be long. Children had their head shaved when they were about

ten years old, to show that their childhood was over. They had their heads

shaved except for a braid on the side of their head. Many men and women

shaved their heads for cleanness and to keep cool. If you were a priest you had to

shave off all of your hair to worship god. Priest and women used tweezers to

remove their hair. Pharaohs had their head shaved because they were priest.

Some Egyptians would wear hairpins to keep their curls in position. Women

curled their hair with tongs. See not everyone had the same hairstyles.

Pharaohs wore fake beards made from wool or

plant fibers. Even female pharaohs wore them.

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The clothing in ancient Egypt was different from ours because of the climate.

Ancient Egyptian fashion was very different from ours and I hope you learned why

it was different.

Glossary

Adorned: decorated.

Applicator: a makeup brush.

Banquets: a celebration.

Galena: a rock

Henna: brown color

Linen: a cloth made from a flower called flax.

Loincloth: a piece of clothing worn around the hips.

Papyrus: a reed.

Pharaoh: The title given to the rulers of ancient Egypt. The word pharaoh means

“great house” and originally referred to the palace rather than king.

Pigments: something that makes color.

Scarab: special dung beetle that symbolized the Sun god Kherpri.

Tongs: a grasping device.

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Bibliography

(2013, March 25). Retrieved from Egyptian Jewlry: applyton.net

Cassie. (2012, Febuary 13). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from Anceint Egypt

Cosmetics: southwestdayspa.com

Hart, G. (2008). Anceint Egypt. New York: DK Eyewitness.

Hazen, W. A. (2006). Ancient Times. Tuskan Arizona: Good Year Books.

Minnis, I. (2005). You Are In Anceint Egypt. Chicago: Raintree Perspectives.

Powell, J. (2011). The Gruesome Truth about the Egyptians. New York: Windmill

Books.

Steele, P. (2000). Anceint Egypt. New Zealand: Southwater.