Ointment jar and cover

Ointment jar and cover

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A light blue stone called anhydrite came into use during the 12th Dynasty. This vessel was recovered from a tomb containing two burials, including that of a woman. The ancient Egyptians used stone jars to store perfumed oils, ointments, and cosmetics, items considered essential in life and the afterlife, at least for those who could afford them.

Egyptian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 30,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from about 300,000 BCE to the 4th century CE. A signifcant percentage of the collection is derived from the Museum's three decades of archaeological work in Egypt, initiated in 1906 in response to increasing interest in the culture of ancient Egypt.