2009/03/01 by Kelly Olson · 67 citations
Arts and Humanities · Medicine · #Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History #Archaeology and Historical Studies #Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies #Cosmetics #Late Antiquity #Art #Ancient history #Medicine #Classics #History
paper · doi:10.1353/clw.0.0098
published in The Classical World 102(3), 291-310 (Johns Hopkins University Press)
openalex publication_date 2009/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Mention of ancient makeup, allusions to its associations, and its connection to female beauty are scattered throughout Latin literature. It may seem a minor, even unimportant concern, but nonetheless one from which we may recover aspects of women's historical experience and knowledge of women as cultural actors. The present study is concerned solely with cosmetics and what impact they may have had on women's realities and on perceptions of women. Although the evidence I collect and present here is mainly literary, evidence of material remains is given where possible. This study is intended as a detailed look at cosmetic substance.