Tracing the Legacy of Egyptian Blue: From Ancient Artifacts to Modern Insights [Video]

Egyptian blue, known in the scientific community as calcium copper silicate, has come to be recognized as a pioneering feat of human creativity. With origins speculated to precede 3000 BC, Egyptian blue was first created in ancient Egypt, making it one of the earliest artificial pigments known to humanity. It is also a pigment that is remarkably resistant to fading, even after thousands of years.

Excavations of ancient Egypt have revealed that Egyptian blue was utilized extensively in art and religious contexts, adorning statues, tomb paintings and sarcophagi. Crafting it required a delicate balance of calcium compounds, copper materials and silica sand, showcasing ancient mastery of chemistry. Even today, its optical properties continue to intrigue scientists, who are still finding new applications for its unique characteristics. From biomedical imaging to advanced communication technologies, Egyptian blue remains a source of inspiration for modern innovation.

Example of Egyptian blue ceramic ware from the New Kingdom of Egypt, circa …