Kyphi by Gypsy Willowmoon
One of our
students found a recipe for homemade Egyptian incense, called Kyphi (Kapet). It
was one of the most popular types of temple incense used in ancient Egypt.
Kyphi is the
Latin version of the Greek transcription of the Egyptian word Kapet.
The first
reference to Kyphi is in the Pyramid texts which date to the 5th and 6th
dynasties of ancient Egypt. There is no recipe or ingredients listed, but it
does state that it was a luxury enjoyed by Pharaohs in the afterlife.
The earliest
recipe for Kyphi Ebers Papyrus in 1500 BC was used to purify the home and to
give clothes a pleasant fragrance.
In the
Papyrus Harris I, which records the donations made by Ramesses III to some
temples. This included 6 of the ingredients from the Edfu recipe gifted to temples
to make the Kyphi incense. The ingredients listed were mastic, pine resin (or
wood) camel grass, mint, sweet flag and cinnamon. It is assumed that the recipe
would also include wine, honey and raisins, but these items the temples would
have been able to source these items. It does not list the recipe or
preparation method.
Plutarch -
The Greek writer and philosopher visited Egypt during the first century BC, He
had access to a text by Manetho from the third century AD, called "
Preparation of Kyphi - Recipes" there are no copies of this. According to
Manetho the ingredients are not added at the same time and ground, but added
one at a time as magical texts are read aloud.
Plutarch
also confirms that Kyphi was drunk to cleanse the body and was thought to bring
restful sleep and vivid dreams.
Plutarch
said that ancient Egyptian priests burnt incense 3 times a day in temple:
frankincense at dawn, myrrh at midday, and Kyphi at dusk.
In the
temple of Edfu, built in the first century BC, there are two recipes for Kyphi
inscribed on the walls of the temple, one of them includes synonyms for the
ingredients and notes of explanation. The difference between both recipes is
only the quantities used. There is also a recipe on the walls of the Temple of
Philae - the same ingredients, but different quantities.
These
recipes and preparation is very complex, with a lot of ingredients included.
The mastic, pine resin, sweet flag, aspalathos, camel grass, mint and cinnamon
are ground together in a pestle and mortar, the liquid residue is thrown away
then the cyperus, juniper berries, pine kernels and peker are ground to a
powder and added to the mastic mixture. To this combined mixture, they added
wine, then left for 5 days. the mixture would then be boiled, until it is
reduced by 1/5th, honey and frankincense are then added and reduced by 1/5th
the mixtures are then added together, adding then the ground myrrh. This would
then be made into small pellets to burn as incense.
The list of
ingredients from the Edfu temple -
Raisins,
wine, honey, frankincense, myrrh, mastic, pine, resin, sweet flag, aspalathos, camel
grass, mint, cyperus, juniper berries, pine kernels, peker & cinnamon.
I was shown
a recipe by a fellow student whom had made some Kyphi incense, so I decided to
try it for myself....
Kyphi incense recipe:
4 raisins
1/2 tsp
Frankincense
1 tablespoon
red wine
1/2 tsp
Benzoin
1 tsp
sandalwood
1/4 tsp
myrrh
1/4 tsp
juniper berries
1/4 dragons
blood
1/4 tsp
orris root
1/2 tsp
honey
1/4 tsp
cinnamon
Soak raisins
in red wine overnight.
Using pestle
and mortar, individually grind sandalwood, juniper berries, orris root and
cinnamon, place in a large wooden or ceramic bowl, mix dry ingredients
together.
Using pestle
and mortar, individually pulverise, the frankincense, benzoin, myrrh and
dragons blood into small granules. Add the resins and gums to dry mixture.
Drain red
wine from raisins, discard liquid, mash raisins in pestle and mortar. Add the
raisins and honey to the dry mixture, knead thoroughly, with your hands, the
form into pea sized balls. spread out on wax paper for two weeks turning every
few days to aid the drying process. once cured store in a sealed bag or jar and
smoulder over charcoal.
Sources:
greenchicafe.com/Egyptian-kyphi-incense-recipe
ancientegyptianonline.co.uk
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