The Egyptians and colour

A variety of colours were available to the Egyptians who ground up coloured rocks into a powder and then added ingredients such as water, animal glue, and egg or gum arabic to fix the colours to the surface of the wall. Most of the colours were obtained locally, though some may have been imported from other areas.

Colours and the materials used

Malachite: green
Azurite: blue
Black: soot and carbon Yellow: limonite, ochre
White: chalk and gypsum Red: hematite (iron oxide)

Brushes were made from plant fibres and wooden and ivory paint palettes were found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. They contained six cavities for six different colours of paint, and grooves for the brushes to be kept. One of the palettes belonged to Merytaten, the sister of Tutankhamun's wife.