orpiment (As2S3)
Mesopotamia
8th Century
Source: Weirauch, K., and Cammarosano, M. (2021). WoW! Writing on Wax in Ancient Mesopotamia and Today: Questions and Results from an Interdisciplinary Project. In: Writing on Wax in Ancient Mesopotamia and Today. Brill.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
beeswax, orpiment (As2S3)
Preparation Steps
The orpiment was ground to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle and then added to molten beeswax (p. 20). The mixture was stirred to form a homogeneous substance, which was then poured into the recessed frames of ivory board leaves (p. 20). In the Nimrud specimen, orpiment was present at a concentration of approximately 25% (p. 16).
Original Recipe Text
The orpiment was ground to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle and then added to molten beeswax (p. 20). The mixture was stirred to form a homogeneous substance, which was then poured into the recessed frames of ivory board leaves (p. 20). In the Nimrud specimen, orpiment was present at a concentration of approximately 25% (p. 16).
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"
Remarks
The use of orpiment in luxury ivory boards from the royal Palace of Sennacherib was intended to imitate the appearance of gold (p. 20). It provided a bright yellow background that improved the contrast for cuneiform signs (p. 20). Arsenic sulfide is highly carcinogenic and must be handled with care in modern laboratory settings (p. 16).
Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionAs2S3
Analytical Techniques
analyses performed in the 1950s in the laboratories of the British Museum
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
Binderbeeswax
ColorYellow
RegionMesopotamia
Approx. Year750
Source Information
AuthorWeirauch, K., and Cammarosano, M.
CollectionNimrud (near present-day Mosul)
Language
N/A
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