Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, Aromatherapy, and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt by Lise Manniche  (1)

Ancient Egyptian Medicine by John F. Nunn £11.99

Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs by B Halioua £16.10

Magic in Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch  (1)  £9.99

Egyptian Medicine (Shire Egyptology) (Shire Egyptology) by Carole Reeves  (1)  £5.59

› Explore similar items : Books (14) DVD (1)

Synopsis
The ancient Egyptians were skilled in the use of herbs and spices for medicines, cooking, cosmetics, perfumes and many other purposes. The author draws on texts by the Egyptians and their neighbours, and on works by classical authors and the Copts, to reconstruct a herbal of 94 species of plants and trees, used earlier than the pharoahs and up to the Coptic period. It reveals, for instance, that celery was used as a contraceptive, wild bananas as an aphrodisiac, and juniper berries as cure for asthma. Each plant is named in Latin and English, and, where known, in ancient Egyptian, Greek and modern Arabic. An account follows of the plant's special properties, with authentic recipes for cosmetics and cures. The author also discusses the uses made of herbs and flowers, and the importance of plants for both funerary and festive occasions. Each plate is discussed in detail, and in his introduction, the author explores the changing relationship of the artists with nature and art. His previous books are "Turner's Venice" and (co-authored) "Drawing in England from Hilliard to Hogarth".

2 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: A comprehensive study of the herbs and spices used in Egypt, 7 May 2001 By  Sunmouse (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews This book is a thorough and well researched study of the uses made of herbs, plants and spices in ancient Egypt. It approaches the subject in an easy to read, familiar style and yet manages to retain a thorough academic basis. The book draws on ancient texts and classical works as well as adding some of the author's own genuinely interesting insights. The book does not purport to be a complete or comprehensive work containing details of all Egyptian flora, but it makes a creditable stab at covering everything that is likely to be of interest to most readers. The index and bibliographies are particularly helpful as is the table of comparisons giving the Latin, English, Egyptian names alongside the references in Dioscorides.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   A fascinating insight into Ancient Egyptian herbalism, 30 Dec 2007 By  Aphrodite -