orpiment (As2S3)

Ingredients

beeswax, orpiment

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The wax layer of the Nimrud writing boards consists of beeswax compounded with approximately 25% orpiment (As2S3) (p. 16). The pigment was ground to a fine powder and added to the molten beeswax before being stirred to form a homogeneous mixture and poured into the recessed frame of the wooden or ivory boards (p. 14, 20).

Evidence

"the wax layer of the Nimrud writing boards consists of beeswax compounded with ca. 25% orpiment (As2S3), a yellow mineral containing mainly arsenic sulfide, which is highly carcinogenic when swallowed or inhaled."

Remarks

The orpiment pigment was identified in the luxury ivory boards from the royal Palace of Sennacherib at Nimrud (p. 14). It was selected for its ability to cause a bright yellow color and to imitate the appearance of gold (p. 14, 20). Pure beeswax was found unsuitable for writing cuneiform due to its stickiness and translucent texture, hence the necessity of mineral additives (p. 14, 21).