Did Queen Hatshepsut Moisturise Herself to Death?
September 2011
Exciting new research has come to light on the death of Egypt's greatest female pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut. Researchers in Germany have found a highly carcinogenic substance in a flask of lotion which is currently being housed at the University of Bonn's Egyptian Museum. They believe the female pharaoh might have in fact moisturised herself to death!
The vessel, inscribed to Hatshepsut, held a kind of skin care lotion – the ingredients included large amounts of palm and nutmeg oil, fats used to relieve skin diseases, and benzopyrene, an aromatic and highly carcinogenic substance. Benzopyrene is one of the most dangerous substances known to man and is banned in today's cosmetics due to its cancer-causing properties. Although it is known that Queen Hatshepsut had cancer and maybe even died from it, the question remains was her moisturiser the actual cause?
See for yourself the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut which is included in the itinerary on the Sanctuary M.S. Nile Adventurer. You can see more information on our Egypt cruises by clicking here. For enquiries, please contact us.
