On the Use of Roman Period Glass Rods in Cosmetics: Alternative Approaches to General Understanding in the Light of Archaeological Data

Abstract

During the Roman period, the production and use of glass rods were widespread. Numerous archaeological contexts and examples have been discovered in museums and private collections. The majority of these works, which were created utilizing the free-shaping technique, are composed of light blue and green glass. The literature emphasizes the use of glass rods as stirring and spatula rods, particularly in the cosmetics industry. This widespread understanding has led to the evaluation of glass rods, which have similar forms but different uses and functions, in the field of cosmetic products. Thus, artifacts whose utilization area and structural functions could not be completely specified were characterized and categorized in a simple manner, typically by evaluating them within the realm of cosmetic aesthetics. In this regard, our study indicates that glass rods are utilized in fields such as accessories, writing instruments, architecture, and textiles, in addition to the field of cosmetics, and it has been demonstrated that the rods serve a variety of purposes. For this purpose, attention was drawn to the necessity of determining the usage area and function of glass rods and reviewing the definition and classification features of similar artifacts in museums.