How Filthy Were the Egyptians?
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
History Hit
4.8 • 2.1K Ratings
🗓️ 9 January 2026
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Lead in eyes, scented animal fat melting over wigs, teen circumcision - the Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths for beauty and hygiene. So how clean were they, and how has the colonial perspective impacted history's view of them?
To find out, Kate is joined once again by Manchester Museum's Campbell Price.
This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.
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All music from Epidemic Sounds.
Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, my lovely betwixters, it's me, Kate Lister. Are we still saying Happy New Year? |
| 0:05.6 | We're not. Oh, no, no, that's long gone. Hello, and welcome back to Betwix the Sheets. Thank God you're here. I've been waiting ages. |
| 0:15.8 | Right, pull up a seat, but before we can continue together, I do have to let you know. This is an adult podcast book about adults to other adults about adulty things |
| 0:22.6 | and an adult way coming around. |
| 0:23.7 | Adults of subjects and used to be an adult too. |
| 0:25.5 | Have you got all of that? |
| 0:26.6 | Can we tick all of that? |
| 0:27.8 | Right, okay, then let's crack on. |
| 0:33.3 | Oh my God, the heat. |
| 0:35.7 | Oh, it's too hot. |
| 0:40.0 | It's been seconds and I'm already sweating. |
| 0:46.4 | 40 degrees is no climate for a northern woman. We're not supposed to be in places this hot, |
| 0:52.4 | but I'm doing it for you, lovely betwixt us, because today we are in ancient Egypt. |
| 0:55.7 | And boy, is it freaking hot here. |
| 0:59.6 | And certainly in a world without air conditioning. |
| 1:03.6 | I know I should be focusing on the pyramids and the palaces, |
| 1:08.9 | but I just want to shower, which does bring us rather neatly to the topic of today's show how clean were the ancient Egyptians? |
| 1:12.2 | How often were they showering? |
| 1:15.4 | How do you keep yourself clean and cool in weather like this? |
| 1:20.2 | Well, I am ready to find out if you are. |
| 1:27.1 | Music Hello and welcome back to Betwigs the Sheets, the history of sex scandal in society with me, Kit Lister. |
| 1:49.9 | This month, we are having a peek, or rather a sniff, around the people of history, |
... |
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