Unguentaria and Related Vessels in the Mediterranean from the Early Hellenistic to the Early Byzantine Period

This book provides comprehensive analyses of the clay and glass unguentaria and related vessels (such as pelikai and alabastra) from the Late Classical to the Early Byzantine periods that have been found across the Mediterranean. It defines these vessels, classifies them by type, dates them, and examines their contexts, functions, regional variations, probable contents, and distribution patterns. The text presents evidence of how unguentaria evolved in type and how their shapes and decorations reflected their functions. It also explores the major production centers, methods, and innovations of unguentaria and related vessels. A primary aim is to outline a sensory approach to Greek and Roman burials and contribute to the "function versus form" debate. The conclusions contain implications for further research on funerary practices, local identities, and social statuses in settlements and their regions. Cover Title page Copyright page By the Same Authors Of Related Interest Dedication Contents List of contributors List of main abbreviations Preface Abstracts and keywords in English, French, German, Italian and Turkish 1. Introduction Bibliography 2. Etruscan alabastra and rituals of life and death Introduction 2.1. Toilette scenes 2.2. Bathing Bibliography 3. Attic figured pelikai and related vessels Introduction 3.1. Representations of pelikai on pelikai 3.2. Imagery on pelikai 3.3. Commercial graffiti on pelikai 3.4. Contexts Conclusions 4. Alabastron: a perfume vase par excellence 4.1. Description of the shape 4.1.1. Origin of the alabastron 4.1.2. Distribution of the alabastron in the Minoan and Mycenaean worlds 4.2. Presentation 4.2.1. Archaic period: The appearance of the alabastron in Eastern Greece and the Near East 4.2.2. The alabastron in Continental Greece 4.2.2.1. Corinth 4.2.2.2. Attica (Athens) 4.2.3. Iconography 4.2.3.1. Religious and mythological themes 4.2.3.2. Ritual scenes 4.2.3.3. Musical and dance themes 4.2.3.4. Motifs of everyday or private life 4.2.3.5. Exotic alabastra 4.2.3.6. Floral, geometric and other ornaments 4.2.4. The transport of alabastra 4.2.5. The storage of alabastra 4.2.6. Uses of alabastra 4.2.6.1. For religious purposes 4.2.6.2. For private purposes 4.2.7. Afterlife Conclusions Catalogue Bibliography 5. Terracotta unguentaria from the Eastern Cemetery of Hellenistic and Roman Thessaloniki Introduction 5.1. Ovoid unguentaria with disc base 5.2. Fusiform unguentaria 5.3. Bulbous unguentaria 5.4. Unguentaria with spherical body 5.5. Ovoid unguentaria 5.6. Unguentaria with ribbed body Conclusions Bibliography 6. A group of terracotta unguentaria and amphora stoppers in the British Museum, London 6.1. Material and studies in the British Museum 6.2. Hellenistic unguentaria in the British Museum 6.3. Catalogue 6.3.1. An Archaic Corinthian unguentarium 6.3.2. Hellenistic unguentaria 6.3.3. A special group of Hellenistic unguentaria 6.3.4. Roman unguentaria 6.3.5. Late Roman unguentaria 6.4. Amphora stoppers Acknowledgements Bibliography 7. The scent of a ritual: a set of glass unguentaria of the fifth to fourth century BCE from Iliberri (Granada, Andalusia, Spain) Introduction 7.1. The glass unguentaria in context Bibliography 8. Hellenistic unguentaria in the Iberian Peninsula: a preliminary overview Introduction 8.1. Iberian studies on Hellenistic unguentaria: a brief historiography 8.2. Hellenistic unguentaria in the Iberian Peninsula: preliminary remarks on their distribution and rhythms of diffusion Concluding remarks: research perspectives on Hellenistic unguentaria in the far west Acknowledgements Bibliography 9. Technological approach to the unguentaria of the necropolis of Puente de Noy (Almuñecar, Granada, Spain) Introduction 9.1. Unguentaria distribution in the Puente de Noy 9.2. Technological approach Conclusion Bibliography 10. A perfume for eternity? Unguentaria from the necropolis of Cumae (Magna Graecia), end of the second century BCE to first half of the first century CE 10.1. The necropolis of Cumae between the end of the second century BCE and the mid-first century CE 10.2. Typology 10.2.1. Shape A (Fig. 10.6) 10.2.2. Shape B (Fig. 10.7) 10.2.3. Shape C 10.3. The deposition of the unguentaria inside the tombs: funerary equipment, offering or ritual? 10.4. Perfume for eternity? Bibliography 11. Unguentaria in pre-Roman Dacia: finds from Cetăţeni Acknowledgement Bibliography 12. Terracotta unguentaria in the far west of the Roman Empire: an overview Introduction 12.1. The use of terracotta unguentaria in domestic contexts 12.2. The use of terracotta unguentaria in funerary contexts 12.3. Production 12.4. Distribution Conclusion Bibliography 13. Terracotta and glass unguentaria from the burials of Late Antique and Early Byzantine Sardinia Acknowledgements Bibliography 14. Content of Late Roman stamped unguentaria from Hierapolis in Phrygia: molecular evidence of their actual use Introduction 14.1. Presentation: about Late Roman unguentaria 14.2. Distribution 14.2.1. List of examples 14.3. Late Roman unguentaria from Hierapolis in Phrygia: contexts of their discovery 14.4. The stamps 13.5. Functional study: the content 14.6. Archaeological samples 14.7. Analytical protocol 14.8. The organic content 14.9. Discussion 14.10. Preparation of the balm Conclusion Acknowledgements Bibliography 15. Some Late Roman unguentaria without stamps from western and southern Turkey Introduction 15.1. Late Roman unguentaria and related vessels from Ephesus 15.2. Late Roman unguentaria and related vessels from Cilicia and Pisidia 15.3. An oil container in the Museum of Yalvaç 15.4. Three Late Roman unguentaria from Gayrettepe 15.5. Three Late Roman unguentaria from Tarsus-Gözlükule 15.6. Two Late Roman unguentaria in the Archaeological Museum of Gaziantep 15.7. Two Late Roman unguentaria in the Archaeological Museum of Hatay 15.8. Four Late Roman unguentaria in the Museum of Alanya 15.9. A Late Roman unguentarium from İleği in Pisidia Conclusions Bibliography 16. Stamps of the Late Roman unguentaria from western Asia Minor Introduction 16.1.2. Four other stamps from western Anatolia 16.1.3. Archaeological and archaeometric analysis on the Late Roman unguentaria from Seleucia Sidera 16.1.4. Stamps of Late Roman unguentaria from Seleucia Sidera 16.1.5. Late Roman unguentaria from Antioch in Pisidia 16.1.6. Seven stamps of Late Roman unguentaria from Antioch in Pisidia Acknowledgements Bibliography Classical source Modern sources 17. Late Roman unguentaria from Syracuse Introduction 17.1. Catalogue Conclusions Bibliography 18. Unguentarium finds from Turkey: a bibliographical corpus based on four Turkish periodicals Introduction Abbreviations Bibliography This collection of essays provides a comprehensive study of the various types of clay and glass unguentaria and related vessels from the Late Classical through Early Byzantine periods that have been discovered across the Mediterranean.