{{Imageneed|''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]''}}
{{Imageneed|''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]''}}
{{Update|''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]''}}
{{Update|''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]''}}
'''Sniff your way through the ancient Greeks' perfume making process, and learn about the importance of scented oils.'''
'''Sniff your way through the ancient [[Greece|Greeks]]' perfume making process, and learn about the importance of scented oils.'''
<tabber>
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|-|Opening Remarks=
|-|Opening Remarks=
*'''Markos:''' ''Ah, my friend! I see you've followed your nose to this lovely... perfumery? Perfum-yard? Perfactory?''
*'''[[Markos]]:''' ''Ah, my friend! I see you've followed your nose to this lovely... perfumery? Perfum-yard? Perfactory?''
("Who are you?")
("Who are you?")
*'''Markos:''' ''Why, I'm Markos, of course! Only one of the most successful merchants in all of Greece. You really haven't heard of me? My name is known from Kephallonia to Kos! If you've ever paid money for something, I probably received a percentage. But enough about me. Let's go back to what you're doing here.''
*'''Markos:''' ''Why, I'm Markos, of course! Only one of the most successful merchants in all of Greece. You really haven't heard of me? My name is known from [[Kephallonia]] to [[Kos]]! If you've ever paid money for something, I probably received a percentage. But enough about me. Let's go back to what you're doing here.''
("What do you think of this place?")
("What do you think of this place?")
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|-|Perfume=
|-|Perfume=
[[File:DTAG - Lekythos with scene of Aphrodite and Adonis.png|thumb|250px|Red-figure lekythos (oil flash) with scene of Aphrodite and Adonis, accompanied by Eros and a woman / 410 BCE (Classical Greece)]]
Perfume-making techniques were invented and perfected in Mesopotamia and Egypt beginning in the 4th millennium BCE.
By the time of the Mycenaean era, perfume played an important role in the Greek economy.
Mostly reserved for kings, priests, and aristocrats in the beginning, it later became more widely available during the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Greeks used perfume for more than just personal cosmetics. It also had sacred uses.
For example, cults would sometimes anoint their god's statue with perfume, and it was also used during rituals like weddings and funerals.
Food and wine could also be scented with perfume to add to a meal's presentation.
The art of making perfume was part of medicine and pharmacology, and physicians devoted entire books listing the best perfume recipes.
'''Learn More:'''
Many myths involve fragrances and perfumes.
One story tells of {{Wiki|Phaon}}, a ferryman from [[Lesbos]] who gave a free ride to an old woman revealed to be [[Aphrodite]] in disguise. As a reward for his kindness, Aphrodite gave Phaon a special rejuvenating ointment that, when used, would turn him into the most beautiful man alive.
In another story, when Aphrodite wept over the loss of her love [[Adonis]], the fragrant purple anemone flower sprang forth from either her tears or Adonis's blood.
A greasy substance - called an excipient - like vegetable oil or animal fat, and an odorous substance, such as flowers and plants.
For Ancient Greeks, the most common excipient was olive oil.
According to [[Theophrastos]], however, the most valuable oils were those extracted from nuts in the Syrian and [[Egypt|Egyptian]] deserts.
The odorous ingredient could be taken from a variety of sources.
These include flowers like roses or lilies, herbs like oregano, spices like saffron, resins like amber, and leaves from plants.
Some fragrances were also imported from outside of Greece, like [[India|Indian]] cinnamon, and Syrian frankincense.
These exotic scents were considered exceptionally precious.
'''Learn More:'''
Perfumes were named after either their contents, their place of origin, or their inventor. Some, like rose perfume, were pure oils, but most were compound ointments made up of many materials - though these could still be named after their main ingredient.
The perfume called "Panathenaium" came from [[Athens]], while the perfume called "Mendesian" was named after the {{Wiki|Mendes}} region of Egypt. {{Wiki|Ephesus}} perfumery, meanwhile, was held in very high esteem, especially the "Megallion", named after its maker, Megallos.
|-|Extraction=
|-|Extraction=
|-|Boiling and Maceration=
|-|Boiling and Maceration=
Revision as of 13:46, 3 September 2024
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Sniff your way through the ancient Greeks' perfume making process, and learn about the importance of scented oils.
Markos:Ah, my friend! I see you've followed your nose to this lovely... perfumery? Perfum-yard? Perfactory?
("Who are you?")
Markos:Why, I'm Markos, of course! Only one of the most successful merchants in all of Greece. You really haven't heard of me? My name is known from Kephallonia to Kos! If you've ever paid money for something, I probably received a percentage. But enough about me. Let's go back to what you're doing here.
("What do you think of this place?")
Markos:A word of advice from a former perfume peddler: Never start your sales with: "You smell like you could use some perfume". It has a surprisingly low success-rate.
("Let's begin the tour.")
Markos:This scent-uous little island is where perfume was produced. Your nostrils are in for a treat! Unless you're allergic. in which case I could sell you a wonderful remedy for a very reasonable price. No? OK then! I'll check in on you at the end of your visit. See you soon, my friend!
Red-figure lekythos (oil flash) with scene of Aphrodite and Adonis, accompanied by Eros and a woman / 410 BCE (Classical Greece)
Perfume-making techniques were invented and perfected in Mesopotamia and Egypt beginning in the 4th millennium BCE.
By the time of the Mycenaean era, perfume played an important role in the Greek economy.
Mostly reserved for kings, priests, and aristocrats in the beginning, it later became more widely available during the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Greeks used perfume for more than just personal cosmetics. It also had sacred uses.
For example, cults would sometimes anoint their god's statue with perfume, and it was also used during rituals like weddings and funerals.
Food and wine could also be scented with perfume to add to a meal's presentation.
The art of making perfume was part of medicine and pharmacology, and physicians devoted entire books listing the best perfume recipes.
Learn More:
Many myths involve fragrances and perfumes.
One story tells of Phaon, a ferryman from Lesbos who gave a free ride to an old woman revealed to be Aphrodite in disguise. As a reward for his kindness, Aphrodite gave Phaon a special rejuvenating ointment that, when used, would turn him into the most beautiful man alive.
In another story, when Aphrodite wept over the loss of her love Adonis, the fragrant purple anemone flower sprang forth from either her tears or Adonis's blood.
Narcissus print / 1805 (Modern period)
Perfume is made up of two main components:
A greasy substance - called an excipient - like vegetable oil or animal fat, and an odorous substance, such as flowers and plants.
For Ancient Greeks, the most common excipient was olive oil.
According to Theophrastos, however, the most valuable oils were those extracted from nuts in the Syrian and Egyptian deserts.
The odorous ingredient could be taken from a variety of sources.
These include flowers like roses or lilies, herbs like oregano, spices like saffron, resins like amber, and leaves from plants.
Some fragrances were also imported from outside of Greece, like Indian cinnamon, and Syrian frankincense.
These exotic scents were considered exceptionally precious.
Learn More:
Perfumes were named after either their contents, their place of origin, or their inventor. Some, like rose perfume, were pure oils, but most were compound ointments made up of many materials - though these could still be named after their main ingredient.
The perfume called "Panathenaium" came from Athens, while the perfume called "Mendesian" was named after the Mendes region of Egypt. Ephesus perfumery, meanwhile, was held in very high esteem, especially the "Megallion", named after its maker, Megallos.
Markos:Hello again, my friend! I hope you see now how important perfume was not only for aesthetic purposes, but for Greek social hierachy. I wouldn't charge so much for my own bottles if I didn't know the value of what I was selling. What else can Markos do for you?
("I'm ready for the quiz.")
("Take on the next suggested tour.")
("Take me on a random tour.")
([LEAVE] "That's all for now.")
Markos:If you say so, but I have a feeling we'll run into each other again soon. Farewell!
