About the Lecture
During the lecture, the speakers will present selected recipes for body care products and powdered deodorants described in Book VIII of Libri medicinales by Aetius of Amida, one of the most important Byzantine medical encyclopaedias of the sixth century.
The presentation will focus on the methods of preparing and using cosmetics, an analysis of their ingredients and the reasons for employing particular substances. It will also discuss the process through which ancient medical knowledge was adopted and adapted in early Byzantium, as many of Aetius’ recipes were derived from earlier works, above all those of Titus Statilius Criton.
The speakers will also explore the social and economic context of Byzantine cosmetology. Particular attention will be given to issues related to cosmetic users, their social status, and the significance of myrrh as an ingredient associated with prestige and access to luxury products. The lecture will demonstrate how recipes preserved in medical sources can provide valuable insights into the everyday lives of the inhabitants of the Byzantine Empire.
About the Speakers
Prof. Maciej Kokoszko is Head of the Department of Byzantine History at the Faculty of Philosophy and History, University of Lodz, and Chair of the international conference Colloquia Ceranea. His research focuses on ancient and early Byzantine medical literature, with particular emphasis on the works of Galen, Oribasius, Aetius of Amida, and Paul of Aegina.
Dr Zofia Rzeźnicka is a historian and classical philologist affiliated with Waldemar Ceran Research Centre for the History and Culture of the Mediterranean Area and South-East Europe Ceraneum and the University of Lodz. She is a member of the Commission for the Investigation of Byzantine Medical Studies operating within the International Association of Byzantine Studies and coordinates the sections devoted to food history and the history of medicine during the Colloquia Ceranea conference.
Organisational Information
Date: 7 July 2026 (Tuesday), 5:00 p.m. (CEST)
Format: Online lecture as part of the CSMBR Online Lecture Series
Participation: The event is free of charge; however, prior registration via the organiser’s website is required: Staying Fresh in Early Byzantium – CSMBR
We warmly encourage everyone interested in the history of Byzantium, the history of medicine, and the culture of the ancient and medieval worlds to take part.
