Trade in
Precious Oils and
Cosmetics
Greek perfumes and cosmetics have long since
evaporated or turned to dust, leaving behind only written references
to their importance and the containers that once held them. Precious
oils, perfumes, cosmetic powders, eye shadows, skin glosses and
paints, beauty potions, and even hair dyes seem to have been used by
everyone.
Export and sale of these items formed an important
part of trade around the Mediterranean. During the 8th and 7th
centuries BC, overseas markets were dominated by Corinthian, Rhodian
and East Greek perfume flasks and cosmetic containers, including
aryballoi, alabastra, pyxides and other small specialized shapes.
Cosmetic ointments were imported into Greece in
containers carved from the Red Sea Tridacna shell. In the 6th and 5th
centuries, with the export market taken over by Attic products,
toilet oil was dispensed in flasks called lekythoi. The pelike was
used to store scented oils or perfumes in bulk.
In the Classical period perfumes continued to be
shipped abroad, probably in bulk containers, and then retailed in
terracotta aryballoi and alabastra. Cored glass vessels began to make
their appearance at the same time, in shapes adapted from terracotta
containers.
Ram-shaped Rhodian Aryballos ca. 650 BC
Rhodes, Siana Cemetery MS 3494
Perfume and scented oil containers occur in either animal or
human-headed shapes in Greek ceramics of many periods.
H. 8.0; L. 14.5; W. 4.5 cm. UM neg. 90561-2
Middle Corinthian Aryballos ca. 595-570 BC
By the Platt Painter
On loan, Philadelphia Museum of Art L-64-532
H. 13.3; Dia. 12.5 cm
Attic Red Figure Pelike ca. 480 BC
MS 399
This distinctive shape, characterized by a sagging belly and broad
neck, is a variation of the familiar amphora. To judge from the
scenes painted on pelikai found in other collections, pots like these
were used for, among other things, stocking perfume in shops selling
perfumes.
H. 29.6; Dia. 20.0 cm. UM neg. S8-120581.
The Ancient Greek World Index