Or at least that's the spin being put on a discovery at Magdala of jars containing some sort of unguent. The jar was found in mud at the bottom of a pool in a "thermal complex" being excavated by archaeologists from the Franciscan academic society Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.

Father Stefano De Luca dixit:

''The mud-filled condition of the site allowed us to find these truly extraordinary objects, which were intact and sealed and still contain greasy substances''

''We think these are balms and perfumes and if chemical analysis confirms this, they could be similar to those used by Mary Magdalene in the Gospels to anoint the feet of Christ''.

''Even if Mary Magdalene was not the woman who anointed the feet of Christ, the discovery of the unguentary vases at Magdala is extremely important.'

''We have in our hands the cosmetic products from the time of Jesus. It's very likely that the woman who anointed Christ's feet used these products, or ones similar in organic composition and quality.''

The actual contents of the jars await further analysis.


Italians find 'Jesus's foot salve' (ANSA)

RITROVATO IL 'PROFUMO DELLA MADDALENA' (ANSA)

Perfume vials from Christ’s era unearthed (MSNBC)

Perfume vials from Christ's era unearthed in Israel (Reuters India)

Perfume vials from Christ's era unearthed in Israel (Yahoo)

Vase discovery linked to Mary Magdalene (Telegraph)

Ancient perfume vials found (News24)