n Ancient Egypt, alabaster jars were used as containers for ointment, perfume, and other cosmetic products, such as kohl. The alabaster used by ancient civilisations in the wider Middle Eastern region including Egypt and Mesopotamia is often referred to as “oriental alabaster”, which is a type of calcite. Due to its easy carving characteristic and resemblance to marble, many ancient peoples used alabaster for decoration. Although alabaster’s soft and slightly porous stone made it easy to carve, the downside was that it would not survive for significant periods of time when exposed to the natural elements.
