Pherecrates mentions an unguent, which he calls βρένθιον, in his Trifles, saying—
I stood, and order'd him to pour upon usAnd Crates mentions what he calls royal unguent, in his Neighbours; speaking as follows:—
Some brenthian unguent, that he also might
Pour it on those departing.
He smelt deliciously of royal unguent.But Sappho mentions the royal and the brenthian unguent together, as if they were one and the same thing; saying—
βρενθεΐῳ βασιληΐῳ,Aristophanes speaks of an unguent which he calls ψάγδης, in his Daitaleis; saying—
Come, let me see what unguent I can give you:And Eupolis, in his Marica, says—
Do you like ψάγδης̣
All his breath smells of ψάγδης.Eubulus, in his Female Garland-sellers, says—
She thrice anointed with Egyptian psagdas (ψάγδανι).Polemo, in his writings addressed to Adæus, says that there is an unguent in use among the Eleans called plangonium, from having been invented by a man named Plangon. And Sosibins says the same in his Similitudes; adding, that the unguent called megallium is so named for a similar reason: for that that was invented by a Sicilian whose name was Megallus. But some say that Megallus was an Athenian: and Aristophanes mentions him in his Telmissians, and so does Pherecrates in his Petale; and Strattis, in his Medea, speaks thus:—
And say that you are bringing her such unguents,Amphis also, in his Ulysses, mentions the Megalli unguent in the following passage—
As old Megallus never did compound,
Nor Dinias, that great Egyptian, see,
Much less possess.
A. Adorn the walls all round with hangings rich,Anaxandrides, too, in his Tereus, says—
Milesian work; and then anoint them o'er
[p. 1104] With sweet megallium, and also burn
The royal mindax.
B. Where did you, O master,
E'er hear the name of such a spice as that
And like the illustrious bride, great Basilis,Menander speaks of an unguent made of spikenard, in his Cecryphalus, and says—
She rubs her body with megallian unguent.
A. This unguent, boy, is really excellent.
B. Of course it is, 'tis spikenard.
