According to the requirements of classical philosophy, in Greece beauty went hand in hand with morals. A well-formed body was synonymous with being a good citizen. Greek beauty canons did not tolerate fat or large breasts. Men practiced many exercises and for many hours to achieve the model of aesthetic perfection.
Personal hygiene
In addition to keeping their bodies in excellent physical condition by following a demanding exercise program, the ancient Greeks were very concerned about personal hygiene. After exercising, they cleaned their skin well, but not with soap and water, but smearing it with oil, sand, ash and pumice stone.
The athletes are represented with their beauty implements in the paintings on the vases. The necessary accessories were small containers with aromatic oils, which were tied to the athlete’s wrist or hung on the wall. The collections of the Museums in Greece include samples of fragrances and dozens of these bottles made of clay or alabaster, in various shapes and with ornate decoration.
Another accessory that men wore was a long, flat metal spoon-shaped wand, which they used to remove oil and dust from the skin. The essential oils of almond, rose, lavender, marjoram, and cinnamon, among others, were used as cleansing lotions, deodorants, and colognes.
Training and massage
The training was followed by a group massage to relieve tired muscles and recover the body. The doctors of the time recommended a bath in cold water, for the rejuvenation of the soul and the body. Steam baths with water heated with coal or hot stones were also common, thus ensuring that there was no trace of fat on the body and that the graceful figure and smooth skin were maintained. The facilities of the ancient Greek public baths were simpler than the Roman ones; some, like those of ancient Olympia , survive to this day.
The beauty of the Greek woman
For women, aesthetic perfection consisted of having small and strong breasts, having a fine and slender neck and proportionate shoulders. Fair skin was a “mark” of a married woman, who spent most of her time at home, although it was considered that the color of the skin of the face should be pale, since it was an unequivocal reflection of passion and purity.
Tanning, on the other hand, was often identified with slaves, who spent a lot of time outdoors working in the fields.
Pale white skin required many dangerous sacrifices from a woman. They used chalk to paint their face and neck, but also more toxic ingredients, such as lead and arsenic. They put a blush on their cheeks , a less innocent cosmetic made not only from vegetable raw materials (berries), but also from mineral powder such as cinnabar, a sulfide of mercury and sulfur.
Appearance symbol of purity
Unassuming appearance was a symbol of purity for women of aristocratic descent, while makeup was a sign of dishonesty, worthy of a companion woman. In addition to wearing cosmetics and perfumes, company women dyed their hair and dressed provocatively, unlike married women, who adopted a more natural image.
The women of the upper classes differed from the slaves, wearing their hair long and styling it in intricate and very sophisticated braids and buns. The hairstyles, depicted in Greek art, suggest that both women and men anointed their hair with oil and curled it, possibly with the help of a hair straightener made from a reed filled with ash.
Blonde hair symbolized beauty in its fullness. Men in particular seem to have devised natural dyeing methods, using vinegar, lemon juice, and saffron to lighten hair and look like Achilles and other famous heroes from Greek mythology.
Women shaved to remove body hair, while men’s beards were a sign of maturity and manhood until Roman times, when shaving was introduced.
