White as alabaster
Meaning
Extremely pale or pure white, often with a smooth or translucent quality, reminiscent of the fine-grained mineral alabaster.
Origin
Since ancient times, civilizations across Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece revered alabaster, a delicate mineral, for its luminous, pure white beauty and faint translucence. Imagine the smooth, cool touch of a sculpted deity or a precious unguent jar, gleaming under the sun, its surface pristine and unblemished. This mineral, often a form of gypsum or calcite, became the ultimate benchmark for extreme whiteness, inspiring artists and poets alike. Thus, 'white as alabaster' wasn't just a description of color; it carried the weight of historical admiration, a shorthand for an almost ethereal purity and elegance that has endured for millennia.
Examples
- After a long illness, her face was white as alabaster, devoid of any color or vibrancy.
- The ancient statue, carved from marble, stood white as alabaster against the backdrop of the museum's dark walls.