Seamus Hammond
Incense and myrrh were highly valued in ancient Egypt, with the former being considered the Fragrance of the Gods. The ancient Egyptians obtained incense and myrrh through expeditions to other regions, trade, and cultivation. Incense trees were introduced to Egypt by Queen Hatshepsut, who brought them back from Punt, a land in the southern part of Africa, during her expensive expeditions. King Sahure also led an expedition to Punt, which resulted in the acquisition of large quantities of myrrh. Myrrh, a gum-resin, was also traded overland and by sea via Nabatean caravans and sea ports, transported from Southern Arabia to the capital city of Petra for distribution throughout the Mediterranean region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of incense in ancient Egypt | Developed since the earliest times in ancient Egypt |
| Incense ingredients | Homegrown (papyrus, lotus, lemongrass, rose) or imported |
| Sources of imported incense | Cedar from Lebanon or Syria, dried laurel bark from India, myrrh, frankincense, and cinnamon from Punt (in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa), balsomon from southern Arabia and eastern Africa |
| Reasons for burning incense | To create a pleasing smell, which was associated with the "fragrance of the gods"; to cover bad smells from mummification and animal offerings |
| Methods of burning incense | Ground-up ingredients thrown on hot coals or mixed with dried fruit (such as raisins or dates) and formed into small pellets burned on a censer |
| Myrrh sources | Commiphora myrrha and other Commiphora species native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the Arabian Peninsula |
| Myrrh characteristics | Warm, spicy aroma; impressive wound-healing abilities; antibacterial properties |
| Myrrh uses in ancient Egypt | Used as incense during religious rituals, ceremonies, and funerary rites; used for embalming mummies; considered one of the "seven sacred oils" |
| Myrrh in other cultures | Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Greek mythology; used in Christian liturgical celebrations, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, traditional Roman Catholic, and Anglican/Episcopal churches; used in perfumes, cosmetics, aromatherapy, medicines, and mouthwashes |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense was considered the Fragrance of the Gods and was used in daily rituals
- The Egyptians imported incense from the Mediterranean region and Punt
- Myrrh was a resin that came from thorny desert trees in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen
- The Egyptians used myrrh for medicinal purposes, perfumery, and embalming mummies
- Incense and myrrh were valuable trade commodities, with high taxes and labour costs
Incense was considered the Fragrance of the Gods and was used in daily rituals
Incense has been used in many cultures and religions for centuries, including in ancient Egypt, where it was considered the "fragrance of the gods". The ancient Egyptians used incense in enormous quantities, as bad smells were associated with impurity. Incense was used to counteract these odours and to drive away demons. It was also used to manifest the presence of the gods and to gratify them with its pleasant aroma.
The ancient Egyptians obtained incense-bearing trees from the Arabian and Somali coasts. They also imported incense from other regions, such as cedar from Lebanon or Syria, dried laurel bark from India, and aromatic woods like cinnamon from Punt, a region in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa. Incense from far-away places was expensive due to the costs of transportation.
Incense was used in various rituals and ceremonies in ancient Egypt. For example, it was burnt during the daily liturgy before the cult image of the sun god Amon-Re. It was also used in mortuary rites, where the souls of the dead were thought to ascend to heaven in the incense flame. Incense was also burnt to cover the smell that arose from mummification and animal offerings.
Incense was made from a variety of substances, including resins like frankincense and myrrh, aromatic wood and bark, seeds, roots, and flowers. These ingredients were either ground up and thrown on hot coals or mixed with dried fruit and formed into small pellets, which were burned on a censer. The ancient Egyptians also used combustible bouquets, which are a type of direct-burning incense that is lit directly by a flame.
Myrrh was considered one of the "'seven sacred oils' in ancient Egypt and was highly valued for its healing properties and fragrance. It was commonly burnt as incense within religious rituals and ceremonies, and during embalming. The use of myrrh as incense in Egypt dates back to around 2000 BC, when Egyptian culture and trade were flourishing.
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The Egyptians imported incense from the Mediterranean region and Punt
The ancient Egyptians used incense in enormous quantities. Bad smells were associated with impurity, while a pleasant smell was deemed the "fragrance of the gods". As such, temples, shrines, tombs, and people had to smell good. Incense was also used to cover the smell that arose from mummification and animal offerings.
Incense ingredients were either homegrown or imported. For instance, the Egyptians sourced cedar from Lebanon or Syria, dried laurel bark from India, and myrrh, frankincense, and aromatic woods like cinnamon from Punt. Punt was an unknown region in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa. Incense from far-off places like Punt was expensive due to the tolls, taxes, and labour costs incurred in transporting them across treacherous routes to markets.
The ancient Egyptians valued myrrh as one of the "'seven sacred oils'. They commonly burned it within religious rituals and ceremonies, to fumigate temples, and during embalming. The antibacterial properties of myrrh helped to cleanse the body before the wrapping process. Myrrh was also considered significant, spiritual, and highly valuable. Thus, burning myrrh represented offerings and a sign of devotion to deities, gods, pharaohs, and other important beings.
The use of myrrh as incense dates back to around 2000 BC in Egypt, when its culture and trade were flourishing. Myrrh is a gum-resin extracted from a few small, thorny tree species of the Commiphora genus, belonging to the Burseraceae family. It is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen.
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Myrrh was a resin that came from thorny desert trees in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen
The ancient Egyptians used incense in enormous quantities. Bad smells were associated with impurity, whereas a pleasing smell was the "fragrance of the gods". Thus, temples, shrines, tombs, and people were scented using incense. The burning of incense also covered the smell that arose from mummification and animal offerings.
Myrrh was a significant part of the incense used in ancient Egypt. It was a resin that came from thorny desert trees in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen. It was also found in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and Eritrea. The tree is described as having grayish-green trifoliate leaves, long spines on its branches, and papery bark on its trunk. The Commiphora myrrha tree, from which myrrh is mostly sourced, grows to a height of 9-13 feet.
The ancient Egyptians obtained myrrh from the land of Punt, which is the modern-day Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia. The fifth-dynasty ruler of Egypt, King Sahure, recorded the earliest attested expedition to Punt, whose members brought back large quantities of myrrh, among other things.
Myrrh was highly valued by the ancients, including the Egyptians, who used it in medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, and during embalming. It was also burnt as incense within religious rituals and ceremonies, and to fumigate temples. Myrrh was believed to bring eternal prosperity, protection, and peace to the soul and body, especially in the afterlife. Its antibacterial properties were also useful in cleansing the body before the wrapping process during mummification.
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The Egyptians used myrrh for medicinal purposes, perfumery, and embalming mummies
The ancient Egyptians used myrrh for a variety of purposes, including medicine, perfumery, and embalming mummies. Myrrh is a gum-resin extracted from thorny tree species of the Commiphora genus, which was highly valued in ancient Egypt.
Medicinal Purposes
Myrrh has been used in medicine for over 2,000 years, with a history in ancient Egyptian medicine as well. It is believed to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties when mixed with wine or posca. It was also used to alleviate pain and clean wounds. In the first century AD, Pedanius Dioscorides described myrrh as possibly being a "species of mimosa", with a "spinnate-winged" leaf structure.
Perfumery
Myrrh was a highly coveted ingredient in perfumery, with a rich and colourful past. Its warm, spicy, and vibrant fragrance is considered robust and arousing when it reaches the human nose. It requires a deft touch from an experienced master perfumer to avoid being overwhelming. The ancient Egyptians used myrrh in their perfumes, and it is mentioned as a rare perfume in the Hebrew Bible.
Embalming Mummies
The ancient Egyptians also used myrrh in their embalming rituals for mummies. It was used alongside natron in the mummification process. Myrrh was considered sacred, and the relief "Sahure's Splendor Soars up to Heaven" depicts King Sahure tending a myrrh tree, the only relief in Egyptian art showing a king gardening.
Overall, myrrh played a significant role in ancient Egyptian culture, with its scent being highly valued for its ability to create a pleasing fragrance associated with the gods.
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Incense and myrrh were valuable trade commodities, with high taxes and labour costs
Incense and myrrh were highly valued in ancient Egypt, with incense used in enormous quantities for religious ceremonies and funerary rites. The ancient Egyptians believed that bad smells were associated with impurity, and so incense was used to purify spaces with its "fragrance of the gods". The resins were also used to embalm the dead, with myrrh, in particular, being used in the embalming process.
The resins were sourced from the barks of certain trees found in arid regions of southern Arabia and eastern Africa. The trees were native to modern-day Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The resins were transported via caravans across treacherous routes, incurring high labour costs and taxes, which contributed to their high value.
Arabia played a significant role in the incense trade, cultivating the resins and controlling their trade. Cities along the principal trade routes, such as Timna, levied taxes on the incense caravans that passed through. The incense was then loaded onto ships in Egypt and sailed to destinations across the Mediterranean Sea.
The high demand for incense and myrrh, and the complex network of trade routes they inspired, underscores the value placed on these resins in ancient societies. The resins were so prized that labourers who processed them were strip-searched daily to prevent theft. Even today, the demand for frankincense oil, in particular, remains high, with a $7 billion industry centred around it.
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Frequently asked questions
The ancient Egyptians sourced incense ingredients from both homegrown and imported sources. They imported cedar from Lebanon or Syria, dried laurel bark from India, and myrrh, frankincense, and aromatic woods like cinnamon from Punt, a region in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa. They also used homegrown ingredients like papyrus.
Incense played a significant role in ancient Egyptian culture. They believed that bad smells were associated with impurity, while pleasant fragrances were considered the "fragrance of the gods." Incense was burned to create pleasant aromas in temples, shrines, and tombs, and to mask unpleasant smells from mummification and animal offerings. Incense was also used during religious rituals, funerary rites, and embalming processes.
The ancient Egyptians obtained myrrh from the region of Punt, located near the Horn of Africa. Myrrh is a gum-resin extracted from small, thorny tree species of the Commiphora genus, native to Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
Myrrh was highly valued by the ancient Egyptians for its aromatic, medicinal, and spiritual properties. It was considered one of the “seven sacred oils” and was used in religious rituals, embalming processes, and as a perfume. Myrrh was believed to bring prosperity, protection, and peace to the soul and body, especially in the afterlife.
