Natron

Natron


 * Egyptian Name:**

//Neteryt// or //Netjeri// ("Divine Salt")

A natural mix of salt and baking soda, natron is a white lake deposit found in the western deserts of Egypt, primarily at Wadi el Natrun ("Natron Valley.") A drying agent with deodorizing and antibacterial properties, natron was the key ingredient in making mummies. Jars filled with natron were buried in tombs. Natron water sprinkled throughout the house was thought to repel fleas, and the substance was used as a soap, mouthwash, a cooking ingredient, and for bleaching linen.

Natron was thought to be an agent of purification, and was sprinkled on the ground in sacred buildings and during rituals. Ramses II was honored as one who "cleaned Memphis with natron and incense, and installed the priests in their places." Egyptian priests drank a solution of natron in order to purify themselves before entering a period of service in a temple. Natron was associated with with the first milk, colostrum, the first milk a new-born animal consumes, providing protection from diseases. "Natron purifies your body from evil, your lips are as pure as those of the calf the day its mother gave birth."

A lump of natron put into the hole of a snake was thought to ensure that it would not return. Natron was added to castor oil to make a smokeless fuel, which allowed Egyptian artists to paint elaborate artworks inside ancient tombs without staining them with soot. Natron was also used in the manufacture of incense, medicines, glass, and glazes. During the Ptolemaic Period, natron was a royal monopoly.

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