THE PAINT LAYERS OF MURAL PAINTINGS AT ABYDOS TEMPLES - EGYPT: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MATERIALS USED

Abstract

The present study forms part of the research undertaken on the mural paintings from Abydos area in Egypt, and it is concerned with the identification of the materials used in the paint layers of these murals. The methods used in this purpose are optical microscopes (OM), scanning electron microscope with an en- ergy dispersive X-ray unit (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XED), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Theses methods led to that the blue color was Egyptian blue, while the green one was Egyptian green; in addition, the red and yellow colors were composed of red and yellow ochres. Finally, the binder used was gum Arabic.