Pigment nomenclature in the ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome

This article surveys pigment terminology attested in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and the Roman Empire. Various source material is available for exploring pigment nomenclature, including archaeological evidence as well as a range of ancient sources, such as lists of medical ingredients, and encyclopedic texts that sought to explore the available corpus of known pigments. While the etymology is not understood for all early pigments, one trend in the Near East was that pigment names could be borrowed from more prestigious natural materials, such as lapis lazuli or gold. In the Greek and Roman worlds, a greater variety of pigments were available especially due to the broader geographic expanse from which to mine or produce pigments. A few trends persist in Greco-Roman pigment nomenclature. Some pigments continue to be named after natural materials. Other pigments are named after factors such as their provenance, color, an innovator, or their process of manufacture.

Automated summary

This article surveys pigment terminology in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and the Roman Empire. It explores various source materials, including archaeological evidence and ancient texts, to understand the nomenclature of pigments. One trend identified is the borrowing of pigment names from prestigious natural materials in the Near East, such as lapis lazuli or gold. In the Greek and Roman worlds, the availability of a broader range of pigments led to varied naming conventions, including naming pigments after factors like their provenance, color, or innovator.