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Research on the Nitrum chalestricum

• Ιγνατιάδου, Δέσποινα

Plato mentioned the natron of Macedonia for the first time, in the 5th cent. BC; as a detergent. In the 1st cent. AD, Pliny the Elder described extensively the medical and other uses of natron; in cookery, in the dyeing of textiles, in embalming, and in glass making. He also supplied information on its sources, among others Egypt and Macedonia, the lake near the city Chalestra. He pointed out that the natron obtained from the Macedonian source was natural, white and pure; as opposed to the Egyptian one, which was abundant but artificially made and inferior.Natron continued being exploited in Macedonia until the 19th century, as is attested by travellers visiting the region until that time. Its association with the city of Chalestra was lost, as was the city itself. Various sites have been considered but the issue of the exact location of the city is still open. It is, however, accepted that the present-day Lake Pikrolimni should be identified with the ancient lake of Chalestra.Pikrolimni (literally meaning Bitter Lake) exists today a little changed since the time of Pliny. Its alkaline water is now mud, but natron is still being formed on the mud water.Research in philological sources and the results of chemical analyses confirm the identification of Pikrolimni with the lake of Chalestra, famous in antiquity for producing the nitrum chalestricum.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Κλασσικές αρχαιότητες

Θεσσαλονίκη, συνέδρια

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