The pure white of ancient statues, as we have known it, is merely a myth. While examining the Parthenon marbles housed in the British Museum using Giovanni Verri’s visible-induced luminescence technique, researchers discovered traces of pigments, from blue to violet, on the sculptures. This could suggest that ancient monuments were initially adorned with vibrant colors and possibly patterned designs. The pigment most frequently encountered is the so-called “Egyptian blue.” It is composed of calcium, copper, and silicon. It was the only blue pigment employed by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
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