The First Perfume: Tappūtī and the History of Scents

From October 12 to November 9, Palazzo Poggi hosts the exhibition "The First Perfume: Tappūtī and the History of Scents," which traces the long and rich cultural history of perfumery, from ancient Assyria (1200 BCE) to the modern age.

The exhibition explores the cultural significance of perfumes along with some technical aspects of their production, through a selection of manuscripts and early printed books from the University Library of Bologna, botanical woodblock printing plates from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s collection at the Palazzo Poggi Museum, and an alembic from the “Giacomo Ciamician” Chemistry Collection.

At the heart of the exhibition is the experimental reconstruction and modern interpretation of the perfume of Tappūtī-Bēlat-Ekalle, as recorded in KAR 220, a cuneiform tablet housed at the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin. This tablet contains the oldest known recipe for an infused oil “fit for a king.” The exhibition presents the methods used in the experimental replication of the ancient formula, along with the historical context and cultural legacy of perfume-making that began in ancient Iraq.

The history of Assyrian perfumery is contextualized within the boundaries of ancient Mesopotamia and is part of a broader intellectual history of fragrance, including references to the Scriptures, alchemy, and natural philosophy.

The exhibition is organized by the University Library of Bologna, the University Museum System, the Department of Philosophy, and the “Giacomo Ciamician” Department of Chemistry.