<em>Penannular Earring</em>, ca. 1539–1190 B.C.E. Red jasper, 5/16 × Diam. 11/16 in. (0.8 × 1.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1958E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.1957E_37.1958E_PS4.jpg)

Penannular Earring, ca. 1539–1190 B.C.E. Red jasper, 5/16 × Diam. 11/16 in. (0.8 × 1.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1958E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.1957E_37.1958E_PS4.jpg)

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I read in the label that the ancient Egyptians believed that cosmetics, combs, jewelry were included for sexual allure since rebirth require conception. But we use cosmetics, combs and jewelry on deceased people now, yet it’s not for sex. How do we know that sexual allure is the reason for the jewelry and cosmetics?

Great question! It has to do with the styling and what we know about the ancient Egyptians conceptions of the afterlife.

Today, much of the use of cosmetics on the dead is, as I'm sure you know, meant to make them look more lifelike and like themselves, to provide a sense of comfort to loved ones.

I don't believe much make-up was actually applied to the physical body in ancient Egypt, but instead that they would be entombed with the kind of cosmetics, perfumes, jewelry, and wigs that one might wear to a party.

Oh, I see. The cosmetics were included within the tomb, sort of like, “You’re gonna need these where you’re going.”

Exactly! You can see in the Stela of Thenet, for example, Thenet, on the right, wears a translucent dress and an object on her head known as a fragrant cone which would melt into her hair as perfume.

Interesting!

Penannular Earring

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Because rebirth required an act of physical conception, sexual allure was still important to the Egyptians after death. Indeed an ancient Egyptian believed his or her appearance in the tomb was more important than ever, creating the erotic stimulus that would lead to rebirth. Thus cosmetics, combs for styling hair, and jewelry such as these earrings were included in the tomb to enhance amatory potential. These goods also followed a person to the next world.

MEDIUM Red jasper

DATES ca. 1539–1190 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 18 to Dynasty 19

PERIOD New Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 5/16 × Diam. 11/16 in. (0.8 × 1.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1958E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

EXHIBITIONS

A Woman's Afterlife: Gender Transformation in Ancient Egypt

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Penannular Earring, ca. 1539–1190 B.C.E. Red jasper, 5/16 × Diam. 11/16 in. (0.8 × 1.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1958E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.1957E_37.1958E_PS4.jpg)

IMAGE group, 37.1957E_37.1958E_PS4.jpg.

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Great question! It has to do with the styling and what we know about the ancient Egyptians conceptions of the afterlife.

Today, much of the use of cosmetics on the dead is, as I'm sure you know, meant to make them look more lifelike and like themselves, to provide a sense of comfort to loved ones.

Oh, I see. The cosmetics were included within the tomb, sort of like, “You’re gonna need these where you’re going.”

Exactly! You can see in the Stela of Thenet, for example, Thenet, on the right, wears a translucent dress and an object on her head known as a fragrant cone which would melt into her hair as perfume.

Interesting!

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Penannular Earring

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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Penannular Earring

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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