How to Make an Egyptian Scribe Costume

Scribes recorded important events for the ancient Egyptians.

Thanks to the work of ancient Egyptian scribes, we know about ancient Egyptian history. Scribes were the few people in ancient Egypt that knew how to read and write. Scribes were highly valued and their position was seen as a significant position. Boys were the only ones who were allowed to go to school to learn this practice, and becoming a scribe could grant a young boy the option of becoming a wise man of the court, a leader or an ambassador. Their typical wardrobe was a linen skirt called a kilt, a thick necklace and curly hair up to the chin and dark eyes.

Things You'll Need

• Black Cleopatra-style wig
• 1 and 1/2 yards white linen
• Tight fitting white t-shirt
• Pair of thong sandals
• Loose gems
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• 4 safety pins
• Eyeliner
• Acrylic paint (colors of choice)
• Thin paint brush

Instructions

1. Cut the T-shirt from the shoulders down have it curve at the center and come back up at the other shoulder. Cut off the collar and throw out the collar and the bottom half of the T-shirt.

2. Hot glue loose gems on the edges of the fabric. Draw thick lines in the center portion of the fabric. One line should be red, another blue and should be separated by a thin golden line. Egyptian collar patterns vary. You can research your own color decorating ideas.

3. Grab the 1 1/2 yards of white linen on the top corners of opposite sides. Hold the fabric behind you so it falls smooth. Wrap the left side to the front and wrap the right side to the front over the fabric brought from the left, like if you were wrapping yourself with a towel. Safety pin both corners from the inside so the safety pin in not visible.

4. Put on the Cleopatra-style wig, collar and thong sandals. Outline your eyes with eyeliner and make the bottom line longer than your bottom lid going out toward your eye brow. Roll up paper to make a scroll.

Tips & Warnings

• The length of the fabric used to make the kilt can vary depending on your size.

References

• Ancient Egypt Online: Garments
• Fashion Era: Collars with Ancient Egyptian Decorative Ornament