Thread by @monaeltahawy

Men & women of all social classes were wearing eyeliner in Egypt as early as 6000 BC. The hieroglyphic term for makeup artist derives from the root “sesh,”--to write/engrave. Ancient Egyptian word for “makeup palette” derives from word meaning “to protect" feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b…

Cosmetics were found in the graves of men, women, and children in ancient Egypt. And according to ancient Egyptian manuscripts, eye makeup was believed to have a magical role, in which the gods Horus and Ra would protect wearers against several illnesses. nationalgeographic.com/science/articl…

I love this detail of a painting from the tomb of Nakht depicting three ladies at a feast, wearing perfumed cones in their hair and elaborate necklaces, from the 18th dynasty (1421–1413 B.C.E.) Photo by Werner Forman/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Ancient Egyptians didn’t only apply makeup to enhance their appearances—cosmetics also had practical uses, ritual functions, or symbolic meanings. Kohl was used by men and women to protect the eyes from the intense glare of the desert sun and the Evil Eye artsy.net/article/artsy-…

I wrote about how my ritual of Deliberate Beauty connects me to that Egyptian heritage extending millenia before me, and why I have a tattoo of the ancient Egyptian goddess Sekhmet on my right inner forearm.
feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b…

I write about the joy that eyeliner brings me during these intense days. Whether it's surfing cosmetics websites in the middle of the night or applying the colours I love at the start of the day. That's what I call Deliberate Beauty feministgiant.com/p/deliberate-b…

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And if you're interested in more ancient Egypt: I write about the goddess Sekhmet and Hatshepsut, who for 20 years, was the most powerful person in the ancient world feministgiant.com/p/essay-the-ki…