Hierarchy classification:

1. top of the aat hierarchies
2. Materials Facet
3. Materials (hierarchy name)
4. materials (substances)
5. [materials by composition]
6. organic material
7. wax
8. [wax by composition or origin]
9. animal wax
10. insect wax
11. beeswax
12. bleached beeswax

Anotations

Scope note:

A particular type of processed beeswax that was used in encaustic paintings. Punic wax was probably made by combining beeswax with soda lime to produce a waxy soap. Repeated washings in hot water removed any excess caustic. Experiments conducted in Berlin to recreate an ancient recipe yielded flakes of a hard brittle wax that melted between 73-75C (163-167 F).