Painted Presence: Cosmetics, Pigment, and Identity in Ancient Egypt
Part III in the Skincare & Cosmetics Series on ScarabsandSilk.com By Dame Talia bint al-Athir, OP ✨ Introduction: Cosmetics as Sacred Adornment and Social Identity In ancient Egypt, the face was more than a canvas for aesthetic decoration—it was a dynamic emblem of both personal identity and divine connection....
🧠🔍 Psychological Profiles of Ancient Egypt
A series exploring the emotional and mental landscapes of ancient Egyptian lives—through archaeology, primary texts, and forensic insight. ✍️ Written by Anela Abdel-Rahman, PsyD Forensic Psychologist & EgyptologistCultural Ambassador & Court Baroness, SCA – Kingdom of An Tir Also Known in the SCA Dame Talia bint al-Athir, OP The...
🌿 Fragrances of Ancient Egypt
A Mini-Series Exploring Scent, Ritual, and Identity Scent was never just an afterthought in ancient Egypt—it was a language. A prayer. A boundary between the seen and unseen. It marked sacred time, purified bodies, honored the gods, and expressed identity in both life and death. This three-part mini-series accompanies...
Fragrances of Ancient Egypt
3-Part Series on Ritual, Identity, and Scent in Ancient Egyptian Life Written by Anela Abdel-Rahman Egyptologist, Forensic Psychologist, and Historical Interpreter Also known in the SCA as Dame Talia bint Al-Athir, OP 🔷Part III- Sacred Smoke “The gods are pleased with the smoke of incense; their hearts rejoice when...
Fragrances of Ancient Egypt
3-Part Series on Ritual, Identity, and Scent in Ancient Egyptian Life Written by Anela Abdel-Rahman Egyptologist, Forensic Psychologist, and Historical Interpreter Also known in the SCA as Dame Talia bint Al-Athir, OP 🔷Part II- Perfumes of the Pharaohs “His mouth is lotus-sweet, his body perfumed like the gods.”— Chester...
Fragrances of Ancient Egypt
3-Part Series on Ritual, Identity, and Scent in Ancient Egyptian Life Written by Anela Abdel-Rahman Egyptologist, Forensic Psychologist, and Historical Interpreter Also known in the SCA as Dame Talia bint Al-Athir, OP 🔷Part I: Mapping the Scented World of Ancient Egypt In ancient Egypt, scent was more than an...
Inside the Ancient Egyptian Mind: Psychological Profiles and Daily Life
Inside the Ancient Egyptian Mind: Psychological Profiles and Daily Life An Introduction to the Series For many of us who study the ancient world, there comes a moment when the past feels startlingly present—not because of the monuments or artifacts, but because of the people behind them. What did...
Ankhesenamun and the Politics of Grief
The Young Widow | Article 1 in the Psychological Profiles Series Written by Dr. Anela Abdel-Rahman Forensic Psychologist & Egyptologist Indigenous Cultural Ambassador, Society for Creative Anachronism Known in the SCA as Dame Talia bint al-Athir, OP Author of the series: Inside the Ancient Egyptian Mind: Psychological Profiles and...
Folded Threads and Sacred Forms: Pleating Techniques in Ancient Egypt
Pleated linen is one of the most visually arresting features of ancient Egyptian dress—seen on statues of queens, tomb paintings of priests, and even garments preserved in royal tombs. But how were these iconic pleats made, and how have they survived for thousands of years? This article explores the...
Blending Ancient Styles: The Historical Plausibility of an Egyptian-Palmyrene Ensemble
Throughout history, fashion has been more than just a means of clothing oneself—it has been a reflection of culture, trade, conquest, and identity. As someone who has long portrayed an ancient Egyptian persona at historical reenactment events, I have often sought ways to deepen my understanding of historical dress...