Lost Colorful Beauty of Ancient Greek Parthenon Marbles Revealed

The lost, colorful beauty of an iconic set of ancient Greek sculptures has been revealed by a scientific study.

The latest research into the Parthenon Sculptures sheds new light on the original appearance of these famous ancient Greek artworks, which have remained a mystery for centuries, as well as the techniques used to create them.

The sculptures come from the Parthenon in Athens—an ancient temple located within the Acropolis, the citadel that sits atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the city.

The resplendent marble temple, which has become emblematic of ancient Greece, was built in the mid-5th century B.C. and dedicated to the goddess Athena. Its elaborate decorative sculptures depict scenes from ancient Greek mythology.

Many of the surviving sculptures were removed from the Parthenon in the early 1800s by agents of British nobleman Lord Elgin. These artworks are now kept in the British Museum in London although their presence there has long been the subject of controversy.

"The Parthenon and its sculpture are one of the pinnacles of ancient Greek art. It was the crown of a large building program," Giovanni Verri, lead author of the latest study from the Art Institute of Chicago and formerly a Mellon Fellow at the British Museum, told Newsweek.

"Endlessly studied and emulated, it is one of the most cherished and recognizable works of art worldwide. It is also a unique survivor. It stood against all sorts of adversities through the centuries."

In a study published in the journal Antiquity, Verri and an interdisciplinary team of researchers used digital imaging techniques and scientific instruments to investigate some of the Parthenon Sculptures held at the British Museum.

These efforts have revealed how the sculptures were elegantly painted in multiple colors, patterns and designs, as well as the innovative carving techniques used to create them.

It has long been known that in ancient Greece, marble sculptures, like architecture, were often painted in color, despite the popular view that such creations were originally white in appearance.

But the exact appearance of classical sculpture and architecture—namely, to what extent surfaces were decorated with paint and with what techniques—remains poorly understood.

This lack of knowledge is the result of several factors. For one, paint rarely survives in archaeological contexts. In addition, over-zealous cleaning procedures intended to restore the original "whiteness" of marble have often contributed to the loss of any surviving paint. As a result, the original appearance of many such objects has remained unknown—including the Parthenon Sculptures.

Over time, the temple and its artworks have been subject to processes and events that have eroded or damaged the original appearance of the surfaces. These include environmental exposure and weathering, the conversion of the structure into a church and then a mosque, and the removal of a large portion of the sculptures, among others.

Despite the iconic status of the sculptures, no traces of color had been found prior to the latest study, and little is known about how they were carved.

For the latest study, Verri used a non-invasive imaging technique he developed in 2007 known as visible-induced luminescence imaging (VIL), which is capable of detecting microscopic traces of a pigment called Egyptian blue. Originally developed in ancient Egypt, this was virtually the only blue pigment used in ancient Greece and Rome.

"If you shine regular green or red light, the pigment absorbs it and re-emits it as infrared radiation, which is invisible to the naked eye but can be easily captured by a digital camera," Verri said.

The researchers also used other techniques, including microscopy—observations made under magnification—and X-ray fluorescence, which uses X-rays to identify the presence of particular elements, such as copper and calcium, among others.

These investigations revealed that "a lot more" color survives on the sculptures than originally anticipated, Verri said.

The team identified large amounts of Egyptian blue, which was used to create elaborate floral and other designs on the garments of the sculpted figures, according to the researchers.

"Until now, for example, it was hard to imagine that such complex drapery would be decorated with additional figurative designs, with human figures appearing and disappearing within the folds," Verri said. "Also, the study found that the decorative elements were much richer and more complex than ever imagined."

Another important finding was the detection of small traces of white and purple. True purple pigment, produced from shellfish, was very valuable in the ancient Mediterranean. However, it appears that the purple on the Parthenon sculptures was different—indicating that other materials were used for this purpose—although the scientists were not able to identify the source.

"As we try to understand the ancient world, we inevitably try to simplify the picture, but this proves that the ancient world was more complex and diverse than we would like to believe," Verri said.

The research also uncovered evidence from the carvings that the sculptors focused on reproducing the intended textures of the subjects and objects represented—for example, wool, linen or skin—rather than deliberately preparing them for the application of paint.

"Even if the surfaces were not explicitly prepared for the application of paint, however, carving and color were unified in their conception," William Wootton, an author of the study from King's College London, said in a press release.

The latest findings provide further support to the view that color, together with carving, played an important role in ancient Greek sculpture.

"The elegant and elaborate garments were possibly intended to represent the power and might of the Olympian gods, as well as the wealth and reach of Athens and the Athenians, who commissioned the temple," Verri said in the press release.