A balsamarium is a special type of bottle designed to hold small amounts of perfume or oils and were often used for cosmetics. When this particular balsamarium was excavated from a tomb in Beth Shean, an accompanying kohl stick was found within the bottle. The kohl stick would be used as an applicator for kohl, or black powder used to contour or darken the eyelid similar to a modern eyeliner or eyeshadow. The balsamarium is made up of two chambers: the first was used to store the powdered kohl while the other was a place to mix kohl to form a thin paste that could then be applied.

—Jay DaCruz

Catalogue Record, Penn Museum