POMPEIAN HOUSEHOLDS: IMPLICATIONS OF COSMETICS

Abstract

This thesis collects the published material evidence surrounding the personal use of cosmetics and perfumes in Pompeii, and contains a typology of Roman unguentaria. The findings and analysis will be fundamentally archaeological, but will be supported by the ancient literary and secondary published works on archaeometry, especially chromatography. The main theory behind this research is that cosmetics may indicate certain room functions by gender and class, and could provide insight into the gendered use of space within Roman households.