Odorful Ancient Statues: A Danish Scholar's Discovery
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- Ancient Statues Were Fragrant According to Danish Scholar
Delve into the captivating world of scent and ancient art with Brøns, the esteemed conservator of the captivating Glyptotek museum in the heart of Copenhagen. Brøns has immersed herself in the works of revered Roman writers, such as Cicero, and Ancient Greek temple inscriptions to strengthen her groundbreaking theory: our beloved statues once bore an aromatic allure.
"The scent of perfume and scented oils," Brøns reveals, "were an integral part of the 'adornment' of cult statues during antiquity."
For instance, consider Cicero's report on the esteemed statue of the Greek goddess Artemis in the ancient city of Segesta on Sicily, which he describes as adorned with salves and scented oils. Moreover, Greek island temple inscriptions from the mysterious isle of Delos promise statues were anointed with intoxicating rose perfumes.
Embrace this sensory journey as we explore Brøns' intriguing study published in the esteemed Oxford Journal of Archaeology. In ancient times, the viewing of a statue was undoubtedly an olfactory experience, as well as a visual one.
- Cicero
- Artemis
- Segesta
- Sicily
- Delos
- Ancient Greece
- Copenhagen
- Glyptotek
In ancient Segesta on Sicily, the statue of Artemis was adorned with salves and scented oils, as reported by Cicero. Similarly, Greek temple inscriptions from the enigmatic isle of Delos hinted at statues being anointed with intoxicating rose perfumes. This discovery by Brøns, the conservator at the Glyptotek museum in Copenhagen, reveals that our historical statues may have carried an additional layer of sensory experience, with fragrances playing a significant role in their adornment.
