biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)Autran POESRFInstitut NéelIllustrated papyruses from Ancient Egypt have survived across millennia, depicting with vivid colors numerous stories and practices from a distant past. We have investigated a series of illustrated papyruses from Champollion's private collection showing scenes from the Book of the Dead, a document essential to prepare for the afterlife. The nature of the different pigments and their distribution are revealed by combining optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and fluorescence. The standardized three-step process from the New Kingdom period was used, comprising a preparatory drawing made of red hematite, a coloring step using pigments from the Egyptian palette, and a final black contour drawn with a carbon-based ink. Interestingly, specific pigment Scientific reports524https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9832040biostudies-literatureIllustrating papyrus in Ancient Egypt.PMC9832040Hodeau JLDejoie CDugand CGervason MBordet PAnne MMartinetto PAutran POfalseIllustrating papyrus in Ancient Egypt.Illustrated papyruses from Ancient Egypt have survived across millennia, depicting with vivid colors numerous stories and practices from a distant past. We have investigated a series of illustrated papyruses from Champollion's private collection showing scenes from the Book of the Dead, a document essential to prepare for the afterlife. The nature of the different pigments and their distribution are revealed by combining optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and fluorescence. The standardized three-step process from the New Kingdom period was used, comprising a preparatory drawing made of red hematite, a coloring step using pigments from the Egyptian palette, and a final black contour drawn with a carbon-based ink. Interestingly, specific pigment 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-19T23:06:52.219Z2025-04-19T23:06:52.219ZS-EPMC98320403662736010.1038/s41598-023-27761-7