Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ancient Chemical Technology: Texts from Greco-Roman Literature: An Interdisciplinary Approach

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
10th International Symposium on the Conservation of Monuments in the Mediterranean Basin (MONUBASIN 2017)

Abstract

In this communication we tried to analyze texts from ancient Greco-Roman literature with technological interest whose translations in international bibliography are obscure and often incomprehensible. Based on Meteorologia of Aristotle, we assume that reverse osmosis desalination of seawater was known in antiquity. Researching texts of Pausanias (water of Styx) and Geber (recipe of nitric acid, aqua forte), we suppose that the preparation of mineral acids and aqua regia was possible during the Hellenistic period. Manuscripts of chemical devices are discussed and explained (alembic, Cleopatra’s Chrysopoiia, dry distillation of mineral sulfur). Finally, materials (binders or pigments) for corrosion protection of metals such as pitch, bitumen, and cerussa are also critically discussed and explained on the basis of Pausanias and Pliny’s writings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Theophrastus born in Eresus Lesbos an influential Peripatetic philosopher, pupil of Aristotle, considered as the first chemist and mineralogist of the antiquity (Pliny, Vitruvius, Dioscorides, and other authors were influenced by his writings).

  2. 2.

    Pliny the elder (Lat. Gaius Plinius Secundus) born in Como, Italy, encyclopedist influenced by ancient Greek authors (Natural History is the main work in 37 books based according to Pliny on 327 Greeks and 146 Roman authors).

  3. 3.

    Desalination: a process to remove salt, from Latin sal originated from the Greek als (αλς).

  4. 4.

    Aristotle born in Stagirus, Macedonia, Greek philosopher, logician, and scientist.

  5. 5.

    Wilhelm Pfeffer, German botanist. Earlier (1748) French physicist Jean-Antoine Nollet (1700–1770) described osmotic pressure.

  6. 6.

    Osmosis: derives from the Greek verb ωσμούμαι = to push, impel.

  7. 7.

    Pausanias born in Lydia, Asia Minor, Greek traveler and geographer whose work Description of Greece is an invaluable guide to ancient monuments for archeologists and historians.

  8. 8.

    Geber, born in Iran, is the Latinized form of the name of Jabir ibn Hayyan. Geber is considered as the father of Arabic alchemy with a strong influence to medieval Europe.

  9. 9.

    Name of sulfate salts from Latin vitrum = glass, due to the glass-like appearance of crystals.

  10. 10.

    Acidum muriaticum derives from Latin muria = salt solution or brine.

  11. 11.

    M. Berthelot born in Paris, French physical/organic chemist, and pioneer science historian (chemistry, alchemy).

  12. 12.

    The word alchemy is of uncertain origin, the partly Arabic origin is generally accepted.

  13. 13.

    Bolos of Mendes circa 200 BC Hellenized Egyptian alchemist frequently mentioned as Pseudo-Democritus influenced by Theophrastus. Author of Physica Et Mystica.

  14. 14.

    Zosimos of Panopolis, Egyptian alchemist of the early Hellenistic period influenced by ancient Egyptian technology.

  15. 15.

    Cleopatra, author of writings on distillation during the Hellenistic period.

  16. 16.

    Ιός is the ancient Greek name for rust of copper or iron [lat. Aerugo, ferrugo].

  17. 17.

    The name of the mineral cerussite originates from the Greek κέρας = horn because of the spit-like building of crystals.

References

  1. Theophrastus (1998) On stones- on fire, vol 8. Cactus edition, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mastrotheodoros G, Beltsios G, Zacharias N (2010) Assessement of the production of antiquity pigments through experimental treatment of ochres and other iron based precursors. Mediterr Antiq Archaeom 10(1):37–59

    Google Scholar 

  3. Suida byzantine lexicon 10c AC, thyrathen edition, Thessaloniki, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dioscorides on material medica edition Georgiadis Athens 2004

    Google Scholar 

  5. Vitruvius De Architectura books VI-X edition plethron Athens 1998

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pliny, Natural History Books 33–35, translated by H. Hackham LOEB classical library Harvard University Press first published 1952, reprint 2003 (liber xxxiv, xxi100)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yfantis D (2009) Metals and corrosion an interdisciplinary approach of terminology from Homer to Suida, honorary volume in memoriam of N. Spyrellis, pp 489–500, edition of School of Chemical Engineering NTUA, Athens (in Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wikander O (1990) Water – power and technical progress in classical antiquity. In: Proceedings Symposium on Ancient technology, held in finnish Institute at Athens, Helsinki, pp 68–84

    Google Scholar 

  9. Graham S (2005) The Greek World after Alexander 323–30 BC. Rouledge/Taylor & Francis Group, London/New York

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tsiourtis NX (2017) Desalination and alternative water resources. In: Proceedings of the 10th world Congress Panta rhei, Athens, Greece

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lypourlis D (2002) Medicine in ancient Greece, Thessaloniki epikentron edition (in Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Aristotle (1994) Meteorologia B, vol. 13, Cactus edition Athens (translation in modern Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Klement R (1949) Allgemeine und Anorganische Chemie Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft G.m.b.H., Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  14. Yfantis, N (2011) Design and operation of desalination units by reverse osmosis –Case studies, PhD thesis National Technical University of Athens, Greece (in Greek with English Summary)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Papachatzis N Pausanias description of Greece (Arcadia), ekdotiki Athinon, 1974–1981 edn, (translation in modern Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Following Pausanias: a quest for Greek antiquity, English translation by D. Kazazi Oak Knoll Press-Co-published with Kotinos Publications, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yfantis D, Fountoulaki D, Yfantis N (2006) Styx water, myth and reality: an interpretation of its corrosiveness based on Pausanias’. In: Proceedings 1st IWA International Symposium on Water & Wastewater Technologies in Ancient Civilizations, Iraklio, Crete, p 155–161

    Google Scholar 

  18. Catakis D (1976) Courses in inorganic chemistry edition of University of Athens, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  19. The new Encyclopaedia Britannica Alchemy (1979), pp 431–436, Macropaedia Knowledge in depth, vol. 1, 15th edn, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  20. Berthelot M (1885) Les origines de l’ Alchimie. Georges Steinheil, Editeur, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  21. Irby-Massie GL, Keyser PT (2002) Greek Science of the Hellenistic Era. Routledge, London and New York

    Google Scholar 

  22. Leary O, De Lacy DD (1949) How Greek Science passed to Arabs. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London

    Google Scholar 

  23. Berthelot M (1887) Collection des anciens Alchimistes Grecs, Georges Steinheil. Editeur, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  24. Brinkmann V, Wuensche R (2007) Multicolored gods-colors in ancient sculptures an exhibition of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, p 115

    Google Scholar 

  25. Yfantis D (2007) Corrosion and protection of metallic materials in antiquity –an interdisciplinary approach. In: 3rd Panhellenic Conference on Metallic Materials, Patras, Greece, pp 477–485

    Google Scholar 

  26. Papachatzis N Παυσανίου Ελλάδος Περιήγησις (Αττικά), Pausanias description of Greece Attica 1974–1981, edition Ekdotiki Athinon (translation in modern Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hellner N (2006) The Krene in Megara – The analysis of a black layer on the floor plaster. In: 2nd International Conference, ancient Greek technology, Athens, pp 172–178

    Google Scholar 

  28. Franceschi E, Palazzi D (1997) Chemical aspects in the characterization and conservation of archaeological, historic and artistic metal artefacts. In: Proceedings 4th International Symposium on the conservation of Monuments in the Mediterranean, vol 3, publisher Technical Chamber of Greece, pp 129–135

    Google Scholar 

  29. Papadimitrakopoulos D (1991) Natural pine gum: a Greek raw material with an historic past, industrial present and future in research, 3rd Symposium on paints, Athens, p 137

    Google Scholar 

  30. Paparazzo E (2003) Organic substances at metal surfaces: archaeological evidence and the elder Pliny’s account. Archaeometry 45(4):615–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

My thanks to Sychem SA Group of companies (Advanced Water Technologies) for valuable technical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, NTUA, Athens, Greece

    Dimitrios Yfantis

Authors
  1. Dimitrios Yfantis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dimitrios Yfantis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Maria Koui

  2. Dipartimento di Architettura Costruzione, Università Iuav di Venezia, Venezia, Italy

    Fulvio Zezza

  3. Department of Archival, Library and Information Studies, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

    Dimitrios Kouis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Yfantis, D. (2018). Ancient Chemical Technology: Texts from Greco-Roman Literature: An Interdisciplinary Approach. In: Koui, M., Zezza, F., Kouis, D. (eds) 10th International Symposium on the Conservation of Monuments in the Mediterranean Basin. MONUBASIN 2017. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78093-1_57

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation