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A comparative history of aromatics, cosmetics and adornment and how they shaped civilisation across the Ancient Near East, Central, East and South Asia, from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity. Aromatics, cosmetics and personal adornment have had a major role in the evolution of human society, particularly in the cradles of civilization between the Nile and the Indus. Far from being concerned with the frivolities of vain pursuits, their study touches on religion, cosmology, rituals and magic, life and the afterlife, sexuality and procreation, artistic expression, technology, craftsmanship, aesthetics, administrative structures, long-distance trade and cross-cultural exchanges - in sum, all the essentials that underpin human civilization. This richly illustrated book provides a history of luxury items from the Neolithic period to late Antiquity. Egyptian and Mesopotamian cosmetics are discussed first, along with the vast region between the Nile and the Indus, with the Iranian plateau at its core. Through the latter, the book ventures westwards to the Greco-Roman world and eastwards to the Indian subcontinent and China. The differing focus of each chapter gives a fuller picture of the global role of aromatics, cosmetics and jewellery within a broader civilizational framework that includes archaeological discoveries that have come to light in the last six decades.
List of contents
List of Illustrations and Maps
Preface
Acknowledgements
Note on Transliteration
INTRODUCTION and a Note on the Origins
PART I. FROM EGYPT TO MESOPOTAMIA CHAPTER 1. To see 'with the eyes of Horus'-
The legacy of Egyptian papyriCHAPTER 2. A seductive goddess as a model of vanityPART II. THE IRANIAN WORLD AND THE INDO- IRANIAN BORDERLANDSCHAPTER 1. The highlands beckonCHAPTER. 2. The Elamite World
CHAPTER 3. In search of Marhashi
CHAPTER 4. The Indo-Iranian borderlands.CHAPTER 5. The Oxus (Amu Darya) and Greater Khorasan
CHAPTER 6. Backdating innovation: Cosmetics, aromatics, and personal adornment
CHAPTER 7. Presages of empire.PART III. THE AGE OF EMPIRES, RELIGIONS and SCIENCECHAPTER 1. A historical overviewCHAPTER 2. Imperial opulenceCHAPTER 3. The glitter of non-imperial elitesCHAPTER 4. The backlashCHAPTER 5. Science and magicPART IV. THE ROAD TO CHINA CHAPTER 1. All about silkCHAPTER 2. 'Chiangkenomania'CHAPTER 3. The maritime route
Chapter 4. Joys and woes under the TangCHAPTER 5. Drugs and AromaticsChapter 6. Cosmetics and PigmentsChapter 7. Jewellery and AdornmentBibiliography
About the author
Fatema Soudavar Farmanfarmaian
