ABSTRACT
Introduction Glass is believed to have been first discovered around 3000 BC in the East Mediterranean. It has been established that hollow glassware existed in Egypt around 1500 BC and was made by the sand core method. A core or clay was attached to the end of a metal rod then coated either by dipping into molten glass or by winding threads of molten glass around it. The vessel was then reheated and made smooth by marvering, i.e. rolling on a flat surface. Even in those ancient times such containers were used for ointments, perfumes and cosmetics, but due to the restricted availability they were only used by the extremely rich. The sand core method was supplemented by the pressing of bowl shapes, until true glass blowing was invented in the first century BC. Early glass blowers were the Egyptians, Syrians and Jews based at Sidon. With the emigration of Syrians and Jews, glassworks gradually became established throughout Europe. Thus as glass expanded, so did its use for pharmaceuticals.
