Egyptian blue, also known as calcium copper silicate (CaCuSi4O10 or CaO·CuO·4SiO2), is a pigment used by Egyptians for thousands of years. It is considered to be the first synthetic pigment. The pigment was known to the Romans by the name caeruleum. Vitruvius describes in his work '"De architectura" how it was produced by grinding sand, copper and natron and heating the mixture, shaped into small balls, in a furnace. Lime is necessary for the production as well, but probably lime-rich sand was used. After the Roman era, Egyptian Blue fell from usage and the manner of its creation was forgotten.
The ancient Egyptian word wedjet signifies blue, blue-green and green.
The first recorded use of Egyptian blue as a color name in English was in 1809.
Read more about Egyptian Blue: Definition, History and Background, Composition and Manufacture, Sources, Archaeological Evidence, Connections With Other Vitreous Material and With Metals, Occurrences Outside of Egypt, See Also
Famous quotes containing the words egyptian and/or blue:
“He will to his Egyptian dish again.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Rather than have it the principal thing in my son’s mind, I would gladly have him think that the sun went round the earth, and that the stars were so many spangles set in the bright blue firmament.”
—Thomas Arnold (1795–1842)