Glass Unguentaria of Elongated Type From Marmaris Museum

Abstract

Three glass unguentaria of elongated type have recently been purchased by Marmaris Museum from a local dealer. Though their findspot is unknown, the unguentaria must have been found together, probably in the same tomb context as they share very similar dimensions, forms and glass characteristics. Glass unguentaria (especially tubular and candlestick types) became one of the most common among all vessel types soon after the invention of glassblowing in ca 25 B.C. They were mainly containers for scented oils, perfumes, ointments, i.e. "unguents". Unguentaria can be regarded as the blown counterparts of earlier core-formed glass containers (aryballoi, alabastra, amphoriskoi or oinochoai).They were simple but mass-produced items showing a wide distribution both in the western and eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.