Ancient sculptures were scented, Danish study shows
'A white marble statue was not intended to be perceived as a statue in stone. It was supposed to resemble a real god or goddess,' the author of the study, Cecilie Brons, said to the Danish scientific website Videnskab on Friday.
The archaeologist and curator at the Copenhagen museum Glyptotek made the discovery after immersing herself in the works of Roman writers such as Cicero and inscriptions on ancient Greek temples.
'Perfume and perfumed oils are often mentioned as part of the 'decoration' that was applied to religious cult statues in antiquity,' she said.
Cicero for example spoke of a ritual treatment of a statue of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, the forest and animals in Greek mythology, in the Sicilian city of Segesta which was anointed with ointment and fragrant oils.
In Delos, in Greece, inscriptions in temples reveal that some statues were maintained by rubbing them with rose-scented perfume.
Admiring a statue during antiquity was 'not just a visual experience, but also an olfactory one,' Brons concluded in her study, published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology.
Previous research has found traces of pigments from long-faded paint on ancient Greek and Roman statues, showing that works long assumed to be white were in fact highly colourful.
The Greeks created numerous statues that reflect their cultural identity, religious beliefs and artistic achievements. These sculptures often depicted gods, heroes and significant historical figures, serving both as religious offerings and civic symbols. Public spaces like agoras featured these statues, enhancing community engagement and pride. Notable examples include grand figures in temples, such as Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon, which showcased advancements in artistic techniques and the idealisation of beauty. Additionally, statues commemorated victories and important individuals, connecting the past with the present and underscoring the significance of art in ancient Greek society. — AFP
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