Khat (apparel) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Khat
A drawing of the khat
Details
Country	Ancient Egypt
Material	Linen

The khat was a special type of head covering worn in Ancient Egypt. It looked a bit like another famous Egyptian headdress called the nemes, but the khat was simpler. It didn't have the fancy pleats or stripes that the nemes did.

What Was the Khat Head Cloth?

The khat was a simple yet important head cloth in ancient Egypt. Unlike the more elaborate nemes headdress, the khat was smooth and plain. It was a practical piece of clothing that also held symbolic meaning.

Who Wore This Ancient Head Covering?

Many different people in ancient Egypt wore the khat. It was worn by everyday workers, such as those who separated grain from its husks (a process called winnowing). But it wasn't just for laborers! Important figures like the king and even some gods and goddesses were depicted wearing the khat. It was especially connected to the powerful goddesses Isis, Nephthys, and Nut.

A Journey Through Khat's History

The khat has a very long history, dating back thousands of years to the earliest periods of ancient Egypt.

The Earliest Khats

We know the khat was worn at least as far back as the time of King Den, who ruled during the First Dynasty. This was one of the very first royal families of ancient Egypt! King Den is shown wearing a khat in an ancient carving found in a place called Abydos. In this carving, he is also holding a mace, which was a type of club, and the image was carved on a small piece of ivory.

Tutankhamun and His Khats

Many examples of the khat have been discovered, especially linked to the famous boy-king Tutankhamun. Some were found in a special storage area called KV54, which contained items used when his body was prepared for burial. Other khats were found right inside his tomb.

Even Tutankhamun's mummy (his preserved body) had a khat wrapped around its head! This particular khat was carefully shaped and decorated. It featured a gold band across the forehead and special emblems of a cobra and a vulture. These symbols represented royalty and protection in ancient Egypt.

How Was the Khat Made?

The khat was crafted from simple materials, but its design was effective for its purpose.

Materials and Design

The khat was typically made from a piece of linen fabric. Linen is a strong, natural cloth created from the flax plant. The fabric itself could be a rectangle or a half-circle shape. It likely had ties at the front to help keep it securely in place.

People would often use a headband to further secure the khat. The back of the cloth would be gathered and tied at the back of the head. In ancient drawings and paintings, khats are shown in various colors, including white, red, or yellow. Archaeologists even found a real khat that was dyed blue!

A drawing showing how Tutankhamun's khats might have been made.

Another drawing showing how a khat was put together.

Images for kids

• 

  A modern drawing of an Egyptian king wearing a khat.

• 

  Hery-Maat, a god shown wearing a khat in ancient tombs.

• 

  Relief of Thutmose II wearing a white khat.

• 

  Relief of Thutmose III wearing a white khat.

• 

  A recreated scene from Tutankhamun's tomb showing him in a white khat.

• 

  Relief of Seti I wearing a white khat.

• 

  Relief of Seti I depicting him wearing a yellow khat.

• 

  Workers separating grain, wearing khats.

• 

  A blue khat found with items from Tutankhamun's burial preparations.

• 

  A white khat also found with Tutankhamun's burial items.