Ancient statues perfumed

[guy]

 

There was a previous post on the painting, dressing, and perfuming of ancient statues (see below). Here is another article on the use of perfumes on ancient statues, which helps confirm the belief that the ancient world, including Ancient Rome, was a vibrant place, not the marble-white world previously imagined.

 

Above are replicas of the Peplos Kore statue from the Acropolis in Athens (c. 530 BCE). The replica to the right shows how the image looked in antiquity.

 

Summary of the Article

Archaeologists have uncovered strong evidence that ancient Greek and Roman statues were painted, dressed, and perfumed. This suggests that classical sculpture was a multisensory experience rather than merely a visual art form.

Key Findings

A new study in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology shows that statues were treated with oils, waxes, and aromatic substances to enhance their appearance.

Lead researcher Cecilie Brøns analyzed ancient texts and physical residues on sculptures, demonstrating that scent played a deliberate role in how statues were experienced.

Historical Evidence

Classical authors such as Cicero and Callimachus described statues being anointed with perfumes.

Records from Delos list materials like olive oil, beeswax, and rose perfumes used in ritual offerings.

Perfuming statues was part of religious devotion, not mere decoration.

Archaeological Evidence

Excavations on Delos uncovered perfume workshops, suggesting local production for ritual use.

Techniques like ganosis (coating with wax and oil) preserved and enhanced statue surfaces.

Roman authors Vitruvius and Pliny the Elder recorded the use of specific waxes and oils for various purposes. sculpture maintenance.

Multisensory Ritual Context

Statues were also decorated with textiles and jewelry (kosmesis), emphasizing their sacred importance.

During festive celebrations such as Floralia, statues were decorated with flowers, creating a pleasant natural scent in the air.

Residues such as beeswax on a statue of Queen Berenice II indicate that scented treatments can survive archaeologically.

 

 

https://greekreporter.com/2026/02/15/greek-statues-paint-dress-perfume/

 

 

 

Edited February 18 by guy