Æson’s Bath

Sir Thomas Browne (Religio Medici, p. 67) rationalises this into “hair-dye.” The reference is to Medea renovating Æson, father of Jason, with the juices of a concoction made of sundry articles. After Æson had imbibed these juices, Ovid says:—

“Barba comæque,

Canitie posita, nigrum rapuēre, colorem.”