A 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 73-758C (163-1678F) (Wehlte 1975). Synonyms: Carthagian wax; eleodoric wax. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000). [J. Cassar, R. de Angelis]