塞浦路斯發現世上最古老香水 歷經4000年香味猶存（圖）Eau de BC： the oldest perfume in the world
近日，意大利考古學家在塞浦路斯南部發現了世界上最古老的香水。這些香水已有4000年曆史，被密封在半透明的雪花石膏小瓶子裏。殘留在瓶中的香精散發出熏衣草、月桂樹、迷迭香、松樹或胡荽的香味。
The scents were discovered inside what archaeologists believe was an enormous 43,000 sq ft perfume-making factory. "We were astonished at how big the place was," said Maria Rosa Belgiorno, the leader of the Italian archaeological team. "Perfumes must have been produced on an industrial scale."
At least 60 distilling stills, mixing bowls, funnels and perfume bottles were found perfectly preserved at the site, which had been blanketed in earth after a violent earthquake around 1850 BC.
據英國《每日電訊報》3月21日報道，發現香水的遺址面積達4.3萬平方英尺（約合3995平方米）。考古學家認爲，這曾是一座香水加工作坊。參與此次發掘行動的考古隊隊長貝爾格諾說：“我們驚訝地發現這個地方竟如此之大，這裏一定曾經大規模地生產過香水。”考古學家還在發現香水的地方發現了蒸餾器、混合液體的碗、漏斗和香水瓶等60多件保存完好的物品。據推測，這處遺址大約在公元前1850年的地震中被埋入地下。
The abundance of perfumes fits well with Cyprus' mythological status as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. "The goddess's myth was strongly linked to the perfume she used to get what she wanted," said Pavlos Flourentzos, head of Cyprus's antiquities department.
塞浦路斯考古部門負責人佛羅倫茲指出：“此次發現的香水及相關物品與一則希臘神話相吻合。傳說中塞浦路斯是希臘神話中愛神阿芙羅狄蒂的出身地，而阿芙羅狄蒂就特別喜歡香水。”
The finds are now on display at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. In addition, four of the perfumes have been recreated from residues found at the site.
An Italian foundation which aims to recreate antique traditions distilled them according to techniques described by Pliny the Elder, by grinding the herbs, adding them to oil and water, then burying them in a small long-necked jug over hot embers for 12 hours.
這些來自4000年前的香水及相關發現物目前正在羅馬的卡皮託利尼博物館展出。目前，這些香水中有4瓶已經被還原。一家意大利基金會根據專家的建議提取出香水瓶中的香精、然後加入精油和水，最後將混合物裝入細頸小瓶並置於滾燙的灰燼上存放12小時。
"It smells good, but strong," said Alessia Affinata, a 30-year-old visitor. "I can smell the pine especially," said Giulia Occhi Villavecchia, 23. Neither woman, however, was sure that they would actually wear them.
一名30多歲的參觀者表示：“它們聞起來很不錯，只是氣味有些濃烈。”還有參觀者說：“我能明顯辨別出松木的香味。”但在場的女性參觀者中沒有人表示願意塗抹這些古老的香水。
