Health in ancient Greece was highly regarded as shown by the plethora of deities that protected it. Apart from a healthy diet, basic requirements for a good health were physical exercise and personal hygiene.

When exercising they would tone their muscles and protect their body from cold and dehydration with oil. Afterwards this was removed with specialized scrapers, the strigils, which were also employed by women for depilation.

Taking a bath, whether at home or public facilities, was accompanied by rubs with soothing creams and essential oils. Women took care of their skin and face with cosmetics and powders from plant, animal or mineral substances, whereas doctors would create pharmaceutical ointments from similar sources.

The powders were grinded in marble mortars; medicine and cosmetics were dosed, mixed and applied on the body with glass, bone and metal instruments such as tweezers stirrers, spatulas, spoons, ear probes (melotrides), spatula probes (spathomelae), which could also be used in minor surgical procedures. The powders and ointments were stored in medicinal jars and other vessels (pyxides, lekanides, lydion), while perfumes in containers that were made from clay, glass or alabaster (unguentaria, alabastra, lekythoi, askoi, amphoriskoi).