Notes on Late Roman Unguentaria from Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey): a Contribution to the Study of the Contents

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a functional study of Late Roman unguentaria from Hierapolis of Phrygia, which includes the chemical characterisation of organic residues found in 30 stamped vessels by means of the GC-MS technique. Evidence from recent archaeological and archaeometric analyses suggests that LRUs were manufactured in western Anatolia. The study, centred on the identification of chemical biomarkers, aims to understand the formulation of the actual contents of the unguentaria, together with the production techniques used for balms and ointments. A key substance present in the LRUs analysed is storax resin, obtained from Liquidambar orientalis, a deciduous tree endemic to south-western Turkey and the island of Rhodes. The pharmacological characteristics of storax resin – well known in antiquity for its healing properties – are also discussed.

Keywords

• Hierapolis of Phrygia
• Late Roman Unguentaria
• GC-MS
• Styrax officinalis
• Liquidambar orientalis

Notes on Late Roman Unguentaria from Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey): a Contribution to the Study of the Contents

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a functional study of Late Roman unguentaria from Hierapolis of Phrygia, which includes the chemical characterisation of organic residues found in 30 stamped vessels by means of the GC-MS technique. Evidence from recent archaeological and archaeometric analyses suggests that LRUs were manufactured in western Anatolia. The study, centred on the identification of chemical biomarkers, aims to understand the formulation of the actual contents of the unguentaria, together with the production techniques used for balms and ointments. A key substance present in the LRUs analysed is storax resin, obtained from Liquidambar orientalis, a deciduous tree endemic to south-western Turkey and the island of Rhodes. The pharmacological characteristics of storax resin – well known in antiquity for its healing properties – are also discussed.

Keywords

• Hierapolis of Phrygia
• Late Roman Unguentaria
• GC-MS
• Styrax officinalis
• Liquidambar orientalis

References

1. Grazia Semeraro - Full Professor of Classical Archaeology, Dept of Cultural Heritage, University of Salento, Lecce. [e-mail]. ORCID: 0000-0002-0027-6280.
2. Maria Valentina Aquilino - Ph.D. Graduate, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Salento, Lecce. [e-mail].