Greco-Roman mineral (litho)therapeutics and their relationship to their microbiome: the case of the red pigment miltosGreco-Roman mineral (litho)therapeutics and their relationship to their microbiome: the case of the red pigment miltos Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2019-05-232018enThis paper introduces a holistic approach to the study of Greco-Roman (G-R) lithotherapeutics. These are the minerals or mineral combinations that appear in the medical and scientific literature of the G-R world. It argues that they can best be described not simply in terms of their bulk chemistry/mineralogy but also their ecological microbiology and nanofraction component. It suggests that each individual attribute may have underpinned the bioactivity of the lithotherapeutic as an antibacterial, antifungal or other. We focus on miltos, the highly prized, naturally fine, red iron oxide-based mineral used as a pigment, in boat maintenance, agriculture and medicine. Five samples (four geological (from Kea, N. Cyclades) and one archaeological (from Lemnos, NE Aegean)) of miltos were analyzed with physical and biological science techniques. We show that: a. Kean miltos and Lemnian earth/miltos must have been chemically and mineralogically different; b. Lemnian miltos must have been more effective as an antibacterial against specific pathogens (Gram + and Gram − bacteria) than its Kean counterpart; c. two samples of Kean miltos, although similar, chemically, mineralogically and eco-microbiologically (phylum/class level), nevertheless, displayed different antibacterial action. We suggest that this may constitute proof of microbial ecology playing an important role in effecting bioactivity and, interestingly, at the more specific genus/species level. From the perspective of the historian of G-R science, we suggest that it may have been on account of its bioactivity, rather than simply its ‘red-staining’ effect, that miltos gained prominent entry into the scientific and medical literature of the G-R world. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/22179-192Photos-Jones_et_al_J. Archeol. Sci. Rep._22_2018.pdfChania [Greece]Library of TUC2019-05-21application/pdf2.0 MBfree Photos-Jones, Effie Knapp Charles W. Venieri Danai Βενιερη Δαναη Christidis Georgios Χρηστιδης Γεωργιος Elgy Christine N. Valsami-Jones, Eva Gounaki Iosifina Γουνακη Ιωσηφινα Andriopoulou Nafsika-Chrysoula Ανδριοπουλου Ναυσικα-Χρυσουλα Elsevier Bioactivity Greco-Roman mineral medicinals Lithotherapeutics Microbiota Miltos Minerals Nanoparticles