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Kean Miltos: The Well-Known Iron Oxides of Antiquity1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2013

E. Photos-Jones
Affiliation:
Scottish Analytical Services for Art and Archaeology, Glasgow, andDepartment of Archaeology, University of Glasgow
A. Cottier
Affiliation:
Departments of Archaeology and Geology University of Glasgow
A. J. Hall
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Glasgow
L. G. Mendoni
Affiliation:
Centre of Greek and Roman Antiquities, National Research Foundation, Athens

Abstract

The island of Kea in the North Cyclades was well known in antiquity for its miltos, a naturally occurring red iron oxide valued for its colour and wide range of applications. By combining geological field work, physico-chemical analytical techniques, simulation (heating) experiments as well as simple laboratory tests, this paper describes the study of Kean iron oxides in an attempt to characterize this material which is still largely elusive in the archaeological record. The present work corroborates previous observations about the superior quality of some Kean iron oxides. Furthermore, it puts forward the hypothesis that miltos may have been considered an industrial mineral, and as such may have been used as an umbrella term for a variety of materials including mineralogically distinct purple as well as red iron oxides.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1997

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References

2 μιλτοπάρη̜οι‘red-cheeked’, epithet for ships with red-painted bows, e.g. Homer, , Il. ii. 637Google Scholar; Od. ix. 125; cf. Sophista, Apollonius, Lexicon Homericum, 112Google Scholar Bekker s.v. Cf. Herodotus (iii. 58. 2): τὸ δὲ παλαιὸν ἅπασαι αἱ νεες ἠσαν μιλτηλφέες; Hesychius μ 1361.

3 μίλτειον στάγμα (LSJ): the red mark made by the carpenter's line.

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5 G. Sanders, E. Photos-Jones, and A. J. Hall, ‘Industriai minerals in antiquity: the case of Melos’, in preparation. On Melos bentonite (mainly Ca-montmorillonite) is currently being exploited for a range of purposes as varied as the oil industry, foundries, and producers of cat-litter; see Stamatakis, M., Lutat, U., Regueiro, M., and Calvo, J., ‘Milos, the mineral island’, Industrial Minerals Journal, 1996, 5761.Google Scholar Yet similar, if not the same deposits were used in antiquity for the cloth industry (in fuller's earth) or for pharmaceutical purposes as ointments. See Robertson, R. H. S., Fuller's Earth: A History of Calcium Montmorillonite (Mineralogical Society Occasional Publication; Volturna, , 1986).Google Scholar

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16 Mendoni and Photos-Jones (n. 1).

17 Rostoker and Dvorak (n. 15), 147; Theophrastus, De Lapidibus, 52, trans. Eichholz: ‘Ruddle of inferior quality is produced by burning ochre. The invention belongs to Cydias, who is said to have grasped it through noticing that, when a general stores was destroyed by fire, half-burnt ochre had turned crimson. New pots luted with clay are placed in a furnace. When the pots are thoroughly exposed to the fire, they cause the ochre to be baked, and the more they are burnt the darker and more glowing the ochre becomes.’

18 Although most classical authors agree that miltos had a bright red colour, some are confident that (at least) Sinopic miltos was liver-coloured: Μίλτος Σινωπιϰὴ ϰρατίστη ἡ πυðνὴ ϰαὶ βαρεîα ἡπατίζουσα ἄλιθος. ὁμόχρους. πολύχυτος ἐν τη̨̂ ἀνέσει Dioscorides v. 96. 1.

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23 Marble, although not shown in the map on Fig. 1, was nevertheless present in the vicinity of Trypospilies cave, Kalamos.

24 The processes have been discussed at length in A. J. Hall, ‘Geology and mineralisation of South Kea’, Appendix in Mendoni and Photos-Jones (n. 1); Cottier (n. 19). A brief account is given in the text.

25 Dioscorides (n. 18).

26 Readings were taken in Glasgow using artificial light in a room by the window at the same time on two different days.

27 The sample was supplied courtesy of Óxidos Rojos de Málaga, Spain.

28 The sample was supplied courtesy of the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow.

29 A Co Kα source was used as opposed to the usual Cu Kα, which produces a high background from secondary fluorescence when analysing iron minerals. The 2 theta position covered was between 4° and 50°. The data were processed using the computer package Traces 3.0.

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35 Theophrastus (n. 17).

36 A number of experimental trials were carried out to ascertain the optimum conditions (Cottier, n. 19). The transition in chemical terms is:

2FeOOH → Fe2 + H2O.

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39 Ibid. 16.

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