Discoveries Magazine September 2024
The Return of Cleopatra's Perfume
What do you think a perfume can tell us about the past?
The perfume was thicker and stickier too, and probably lasted
longer. Littman said it was like "... the Chanel No. 5 of ancient
Egypt." (Chanel No. 5 is a very popular modern perfume.)
Dora Goldsmith, an expert on ancient Egypt, said, "This
perfume gives us a unique way to experience the past. It's a
scent that connects us to Cleopatra and her world."
We can't be sure if this is the exact perfume Cleopatra used, but
it helps us imagine life in ancient Egypt. If you want to smell
this special scent, you can visit the National Geographic
Museum in Washington, DC.
Cleopatra, a queen of ancient Egypt, is famous for her beauty,
intelligence, and leadership. She's also known for her perfume.
People say that Cleopatra had a special perfume that people
could smell from far away. Recently, scientists were able to
make what they think was Cleopatra's ancient perfume.
The search for Cleopatra's perfume began when archaeologists
found an old perfume factory in Thmuis, Egypt. They
discovered traces of a very old perfume in special containers
called amphorae. These containers were commonly used by
ancient Greeks and Romans. They believe this perfume might
be the one Cleopatra used. Dr. Robert Littman and his team,
from the University of Hawaii, studied these 2,000-year-old
remains. Littman said, "It gave us a real connection to
Cleopatra's time."
The archaeologists used modern science to study the old
perfume. They found it was made from ingredients like myrrh
(from a local tree), olive oil, cinnamon, and cardamom. These
were mixed, heated, and left to age for months. This created a
rich, strong, musky smell, very different from today's perfumes.
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© 1990-2024 Edusoft LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Discoveries Magazine September 2024
Questions for The Return of Cleopatra's Perfume
1. What did archaeologists find in the ancient Egyptian factory?
Full bottles of ancient perfume
Traces of perfume in jars
Recipes for making perfume
Old tools for making perfume
2. What does "amphorae" refer to?
The name of Cleopatra's perfume
Ancient containers
A special ingredient
An old factory
3. Robert Littman...
owns a perfume factory.
is an archaeologist.
is a student at the University of Hawaii.
works as a perfume manufacturer.
4. According to the article, how was Cleopatra's perfume different from perfumes today?
It was thicker and stickier.
It had a stronger smell.
It lasted much longer.
All of the above
5. If someone wants to smell Cleopatra's recreated perfume, they should...
visit the National Geographic Museum
buy it in a store or online.
go to Egypt.
visit the University of Hawaii.
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