Caesar - "All the British color themselves with glass, which produces a blue color."
"Vitro" translates to a type of blue-green glass that was popular among the Romans, it does not translate to woad. Most authors accepted it as woad though, as woad was used to dye cloth blue at that time.
The only other evidence given is Pliny the Elder's discussion of women's funeral rites that involve using a "Glastum" a "plantain-like" plant to paint themselves to look "like Ethiopians." Also assumed incorrectly to be woade.
Blue/Green was the Celtic colour "Glas" too. So creative translating puts woade in the frame for ancient blue body paint, but it isnt good for that. They probably used copper or iron pigments, which accords with what I know of them having "hot iron" blue tattoos.
Full story as I found it here:
http://www.cyberpict.net/sgathan/essays/woad.htm
OK very late here, going to try and find my bed. Hope that keeps ya going Dodge. Night
Reply | with quote | Posted by Branwen 10th December 2009ce 02:21 |
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