The Egyptians and colour

The Egyptians also used these paint colours as make-up, using kohl, made from malachite and galena, or soot to darken the eyes. Herbs and fruit were also used to colour the face, producing reds and oranges for the lips and cheeks.


Colour was also used symbolically by the Egyptians. Green was associated with fertility and life, black for grief, and yellow for eternity. In writing they used only red and black. Red was used to make the text stand out, such as headings, and account totals, and also for anything considered unlucky.

We know a great deal about the Egyptians from their wall paintings: their arts and crafts, way of life, the appearance of their gods, and the fashions worn by the Egyptian people. The paintings were meant to be realistic. In the tombs they represented the life which the deceased had led. If the person was an official then his office was painted on the walls of his tomb.