Egyptian blue (Zangindurû)

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The pigment is used not just for surface decoration but also for deep carvings and fillings (p. 53). It is linked to concepts of rebirth, regeneration, and water in an Egyptian context (p. 53).

Evidence

"blue is not simply used to decorate flat surfaces or to paint hieroglyphics, but also for deep carvings and fillings."

Remarks

The bright blue pigment, called Zangindurû in Neo-Assyrian contexts, was used to highlight cuneiform carved inscriptions (p. 53). It served an amuletic and apotropaic function, providing ritual purity (p. 53). In Building 1500, the presence of blue conveyed symbolic meaning related to the palatial structure (p. 53).