Yellow, red and blue pigments from ancient Egyptian palace painted walls

Abstract

Yellow, red and blue pigments from the painted walls of the Malqata palace, founded by Amenhotep III, 18th Dynasty, were analyzed using PIXE and X-ray diffraction (XRD). From most of the yellow, red and blue parts, goethite, hematite and Egyptian blue, respectively, were found on the basis of diffractometry results. From some yellow parts, As was detected together with Fe spectroscopically, suggesting the use of orpiment as a yellow pigment. The red pigment seems to be natural and not man-made. This assumption is deduced from the dehydration experiment of a synthesized goethite.