The Ancient Mining of Turquoise in Sinai
by Shahinda Abdalla
Ring with Uninscribed Scarab from the Middle Kingdom (1859-1640BC) (Image Credit)
Adorned by the kings and queens of the world, turquoise is no ordinary gem. Considered holy, sacred, a bringer of abundance and good fortune, turquoise was loved by many ancient civilizations across the globe. The ancient Egyptians were no exception; some of the earliest recorded mining of the mineral is found here on the Sinai Peninsula dating back to 3000 BC. Turquoise is often found alongside copper, so their mining went side by side. This is because the mineral itself is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. This beautiful opaque blue-green mineral unfortunately can no longer be found on the peninsula, it has all been extracted. This makes Egyptian turquoise particularly rare and special.
Miniature broad collar from Early Ptolemaic Period (332-246 BC) from Egypt, Eastern Delta Image Credit
Sinai in Arabic is often referred to as “Ard Al-Fayrouz” (The Land of Turqouise) after its ancient Egyptian name “Ta Mefkat” or “Khetyou Mefkat” which means Turquoise Terraces. The ancient Egyptians made great use of this mineral, using it for divine offerings, to make royal jewelry, rings, great sweeping necklaces called pectorals. Often set in gold, the gem was used to make beads or as inlay. Scarab motifs were often carved using turquoise. And very importantly to the ancients of course was the use of turquoise for mummy ornaments and amulets that were buried with the pharaohs in their tombs. This great demand for the mineral meant that the pharaohs sent expeditions of miners to Sinai to extract turquoise and copper, and bring it back to the more central Nile Delta regions of the Kingdom.
Remains of Temple of Hathor, Serabit Al-Khadim (Image Credit)
Wadi Maghara, Wadi Kharig, Bir Nasb and Serabit Al-Khadim were the primary mining sites in antiquity. Some of these mining sites can be visited today and offer some of the most unique insights into the history of Sinai. It is not common to find any ancient Egyptian temples or relics in Sinai, which makes the discovery of the Temple of Hathor on an elevation near the mining site of Serabit Al-Khadim in the southwest region of Sinai very special indeed. The temple dates back to the Middle Kingdom during the reign of Sesostris I (from 1971to 1926BC) and was partly reconstructed in the New Kingdom. Today, only remnants of pillars of the temple can be seen. But even these remnants are extraordinary with their inscriptions, which recorded things like the daily activities and progress of the miners to devotional prayers to Hathor, like a diary of sorts which has been invaluable to archeologists giving them insight into the daily lives of our ancestors. The goddess Hathor was associated with Turquoise and is often referred to as The Lady or Mistress of Turquoise. She was the goddess of fertility, sexual love, dance and music. Loved especially by women who prayed to her to give them children and protect the ones they already have, Hathor, along with turquoise became associated with good luck, prosperity, and protection from the gods.
The iconic gold mask of Tutankhamun, inlaid with turquoise, lapis lazuli, carnelian and colored glass (Image Credit)
One of the most famous ancient treasures decorated with turquoise is Tutankhamun’s burial mask (shown in the image above). Much of the popularity of the green-blue gem in the modern culture can be traced to the French archaeological excavations of the mid-19th through to the early 20th century which include the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb which generated an unprecedented interest from the western world and had great impressions on the design of jewelry, architecture, and art of the times. Until today, turquoise is regarded as a very special gem, still worn for both its beautiful color and for protection. In Egypt, many still wear a blue bead or hang one in their cars or homes to bring good luck into their lives and protect them from any ill fortunes.