I see there has been some discussion about this image.
I recently encountered it and was about to use it as an example of nail polish.
I have subsequently looked at other images of this tomb, and although I am admittedly not an Egyptian scholar let me express my concerns:
1) It appears that much of the art in the tomb is bas relief, possibly painted, but with substantial wear on the paint.
2) Several variations of this image appear in a google search. For example the length of the hair varies.
3) Versions of this image on the web all appear to have modern solid colors, and with some variation, all appear flawless.
In conclusion therefore, I wonder if this image is not in fact a reconstruction or restoration, if indeed it is derived from carvings/paintings found in the tomb?
To the extent this is a correct assumption, then the image should be so identified.
The interpretation of the image in its details such as the skin color difference between those performing the massage and those receiving it affect how a scholar or student might interpret the picture. The indication of lipstick and nail polish is another issue: is this in fact a real example of the use of nail polish in 2330 BC or is this an unthinking revision of history? For example the Wikipedia article on nail polish suggests that it was used in ancient times, and that in Egypt color was tied to social rank. What do the white nails mean?
I don't know the answers to these questions. I have no objections if advocates of a certain kind of medical practice want to suggest that a certain ancient artworks supports a historical basis for a certain kind of practice, however images get found and are used for many purposes so if the Wikipedia is to represent true scholarship it needs to also be factually accurate. The image is useful in that it contains insights, but it may also contain distortions.
Rosebush (talk) 20:43, 20 February 2009 (UTC)Judson Rosebush
