# Ultraviolet Light Reveals How Ancient Greek Statues Really Looked **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506 "2010-08-26T05:41:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/1 "2010-08-26T05:41:08Z")
See some [here](http://io9.com/5616498/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked). This is cool! I’ve always thought of the Greeks as pretty much “white marble” even though I’d read in the past that they were actually quite colorful. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/2 "2010-08-26T05:57:32Z")
The thing I wonder is whether the Romans knew about all that fabulous color, or whether they emulated and perpetuated what they thought was a pure marble look, the classical Greek statues having faded by then. (OTOH I see one of the colorized statues is of Augustus, not that you’d know it from the article.) How about Michaelangelo and other sculptors around the time of the Renaissance? When did we “forget” that the old statues were once in color? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/3 "2010-08-26T06:04:40Z")
I really like the pics added in the comments section too. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/4 "2010-08-26T06:55:03Z")
Similarly, they shine colored lights on Amiens Cathedral at night to show how it used to look: [http://www.iwalku2.com/2008/04/amiens-cathedral-light-show.html](http://www.iwalku2.com/2008/04/amiens-cathedral-light-show.html) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/5 "2010-08-26T07:40:26Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > The thing I wonder is whether the Romans knew about all that fabulous color, or whether they emulated and perpetuated what they thought was a pure marble look, the classical Greek statues having faded by then. (OTOH I see one of the colorized statues is of Augustus, not that you’d know it from the article.) How about Michaelangelo and other sculptors around the time of the Renaissance? When did we “forget” that the old statues were once in color? The Romans painted their statues. The Renaissance sculptors tried to copy the old Roman style, and by that point, the old Roman statues had lost their paint, so the Renaissance statues weren’t painted. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/6 "2010-08-26T14:55:30Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > The thing I wonder is whether the Romans knew about all that fabulous color, or whether they emulated and perpetuated what they thought was a pure marble look, the classical Greek statues having faded by then. (OTOH I see one of the colorized statues is of Augustus, not that you’d know it from the article.) How about Michaelangelo and other sculptors around the time of the Renaissance? When did we “forget” that the old statues were once in color? What’s with that weird baby man on an egg thing next to his feet? I don’t remember that from art appreciation. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/7 "2010-08-26T15:10:16Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > What’s with that weird baby man on an egg thing next to his feet? I don’t remember that from art appreciation. Ah, the art of compromise, or in this case, compromise in art. It’s Cupid riding a dolphin. Basically it’s there to provide structural support for the rest of the statue. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/8 "2010-08-26T15:15:01Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > > [@Wile\_E](#): > > > > What’s with that weird baby man on an egg thing next to his feet? I don’t remember that from art appreciation. > > Ah, the art of compromise, or in this case, compromise in art. It’s Cupid riding a dolphin. Basically it’s there to provide structural support for the rest of the statue. It also symbolizes his supposed ancestry through his adopted father, Julius Caesar, who claimed descent from Venus. Two jobs for the price of one! ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/9 "2010-08-26T15:29:53Z")
It surprised me how much less attractive they look that way. Then again, I was living in Williamsburg, VA when it came to light that the “traditional” colors of Williamsburg Blue (greyish blue) and Williamsburg Green (greyish green), were actually extremely faded versions of the true original colors, which were, roughly, turquiose and lime green! _Quelle horreur_. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/10 "2010-08-26T15:39:43Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It surprised me how much less attractive they look that way. I think [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) described one work as looking like a Pride Day float collided with Mardi Gras. Re the Romans- I saw some of these repainted reproductions along with their originals in Los Angeles a few years ago & indeed they did paint them. One item was a head of Caligula. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/11 "2010-08-26T15:44:06Z")
The tag line of the article says it all, “The color? Always something tacky.” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/12 "2010-08-26T15:47:02Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > Similarly, they shine colored lights on Amiens Cathedral at night to show how it used to look: > > [http://www.iwalku2.com/2008/04/amiens-cathedral-light-show.html](http://www.iwalku2.com/2008/04/amiens-cathedral-light-show.html) That’s truly awesome! > [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It surprised me how much less attractive they look that way. > > Then again, I was living in Williamsburg, VA when it came to light that the “traditional” colors of Williamsburg Blue (greyish blue) and Williamsburg Green (greyish green), were actually extremely faded versions of the true original colors, which were, roughly, turquiose and lime green! _Quelle horreur_. Similarly, I understand that the famous black door at 10 Downing Street was only black because of pollution, and was originally bright yellow. Now, of course, it’s so famous that when they refinished it, they just painted it black. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/13 "2010-08-26T15:58:34Z")
Many sculptures from the ancient world still retain their original color. A relief of Medusa holding Pegasus (and, probably before it was damaged, Chrysaor as well) from Syracuse still retains much of its original paint. Scroll halfway down here (the colors on the website aren’t correct – they’re weighted too blue): [http://www.mythinglinks.org/euro~west~greece~Medusa.html](http://www.mythinglinks.org/euro~west~greece~Medusa.html) Also, at least one statue of Aphrodite from Pompeii retains some of its color, especially its gilding ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/14 "2010-08-26T20:37:21Z")
I would give a great deal to have seen the Statue of Liberty before she turned green. Not that I don’t like her being green, but how would I know the difference. (Also, didn’t anyone think of that when she was commissioned?) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/15 "2010-08-26T20:42:41Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > (Also, didn’t anyone think of that when she was commissioned?) I think most of the time, the patina process of metals that are subject to it (such as copper) is planned and considered desirable. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/16 "2010-08-26T22:11:33Z")
Our state house dome used to be verdigris copper, which was very striking and attractive and well known. They did a big restoration project on the whole building more than a decade ago and of course the copper was then copper colored - they said it would be green in five years. It still isn’t. I miss it. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/17 "2010-08-27T01:38:51Z")
We use a similar technique to photograph ancient documents with a special ultraviolet camera. Occasionally documents considered too damaged to interpret can furnish pretty good readings when they’ve been imaged properly with UV. It’s pretty amazing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/18 "2010-08-27T07:09:33Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > What’s with that weird baby man on an egg thing next to his feet? I don’t remember that from art appreciation. It’s cupid - it shows his “relation” to Venus. Mainly though, it was used as form of structure for the statute. It is very difficult for a statute of this nature to stand on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/19 "2010-08-27T07:16:41Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I would give a great deal to have seen the Statue of Liberty before she turned green. Not that I don’t like her being green, but how would I know the difference. (Also, didn’t anyone think of that when she was commissioned?) Yes, they did. She was supposed to turn green. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506/20 "2010-08-27T07:54:46Z")
In the mid-80s when they were refurbishing the Statue of Liberty for a couple of months, I think some people speculated it was going to be copper colored again – but of course it didn’t turn out that way. (For details refer to WILLIAMS, Remo.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked/551506.md?page=2)