Christ’s Trials, Crucifixion, and Resurrection 26:7 an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil. Mark sets the value at “more than three hundred denarii” (see note on Mark 14:5), nearly a year’s wages—very costly indeed. Even the expensive flask was broken (Mark 14:3), making the act that much more costly. “Alabaster” was a fine variety of marble, quarried in Egypt, which could be carved into delicate containers for storing costly perfumes. John tells us this woman was Mary, sister of Martha