Painting of Eyes

EYES, PAINTING OF. The ancient practice of painting the eyelids in order to enhance the beauty of the feminine face (Jer.4.30; Ezek.23.40). Jezebel “painted her eyes” (2Kgs.9.30). Oriental women still paint their eyelids with antimony or kohl (a black powder made of the smoke black from the burning of frankincense) to make them look full and sparkling, the blackened margin contrasting with the white of the eye.