The story of incense is one of the most intriguing in both eastern and western culture. From the first millennium BC to the present day it has been sought after and valued on a par with precious metals or gems. Although incense was a luxury, it was consumed in prodigious quantities by the ancient world, in temples and at funerals, but also in private homes. The papers in this volume look at the role of incense, primarily - though not exclusively - during the Roman period. It is hoped that they will provide a starting point for further research into this important, but neglected, area of social and economic archaeology.

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Contributors
• Preface
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: The Incense Kingdoms of Yemen: - An Outline History of the South Arabian Incense Trade
  • Notes
  • Select Bibliography
• Chapter 3: Basalt as Ships’ Ballast and the Roman Incense Trade
  • Summary
  • Introduction
  • The Material
  • Potential Sources
  • Analytical Method
  • Rock Dates
  • Petrography
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Bibliography
  • Appendix 1
• Chapter 4: The Port of Qana’ and the Incense Trade
  • Introduction
  • Description Of The Site
  • Stratigraphy of the Site
  • Development of the Site
  • Place of Qana’ in the Rome–Indian Sea Trade
  • Notes
  • Bibliography
• Chapter 5: Frankincense in the ‘Triangular’ Indo-Arabian-Roman Aromatics Trade
• Chapter 6: Incense in Mithraic Ritual: The Evidence of the Finds
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Bibliography
• Chapter 7: Incense and the Port of Adulis
• Chapter 8: Frankincense and Myrrh Today
  • Introduction
  • Contemporary Frankincense–Trade and Harvest
  • Frankincense in Worship
  • Perfumes Cosmetics and Medicines
  • Frankincense Tourism
  • Conclusion