In the early 1st century BC, a young girl named Psyche Stasimi died at the tender age of 6 or 7 on the island of Milos. Though she did not live to see adolescence, her family commissioned a marble bust to honor her. What makes this bust remarkable is the preservation of traces of its original color, offering scientists a glimpse into ancient artistic techniques. The bust’s intricate details, such as the girl’s hair, eyes and clothing, retain remnants of a red hue – likely derived from madder root – a plant-based dye used for its vibrant color. Dr Giovanni Verri, a conservation expert at the Art Institute of Chicago, and a team of archaeologists from Greece’s National Archaeological Museum have studied the bust. They discovered that the red pigment was used for the girl’s clothing and face, while black pigment enhanced the eyes and hair. The colors’ preservation was likely aided by the bust’s burial in an underground chamber. The vivid colors give the bust an almost lifelike quality, making it appear as though Psyche is still alive. This discovery sheds light not only on ancient art techniques, but also on the social and personal significance of such sculptures in funerary practices.