wine god
Don’t you just love the stories of ancient mythology?
Glorious heroes, gods with supernatural strength, compelling plot lines! Perhaps you enjoyed THOR, recently in theatres?!
While researching ancient glass, I read of the myth connected to an amazing, one of a kind glasswork. It was serendipitous, and I knew that I had to share my discovery with you!
The story begins with Greek god Dionysos who roamed the countryside with his band of drunken revelers. Afraid that they may establish a cult in Thrace, King Lykourgos, mythical King of the Edoni (modern-day Turkey) imprisoned the boisterous followers and tried to arrest Dionysos. Greatly angered, Dionysos sent a drought, which turned the people against the King. An oracle declared to the people of Thrace that the land would stay in this unfruitful condition as long as the King was alive. Transformed into a vine, Ambrosia, a follower of Dionysos, coiled herself around the wine god’s thrysos (a special staff) and held Lykourgos captive with the aid of a panther, a Pan and a Satyr. Tied to four wild horses, King Lykourgos was torn apart. Once dead, Dionysos lifted the curse, giving back life to the land of Thrace.
This glorious glass cup displays the triumph of Dionysos over Lykourgos. An extraordinary, elaborate and well-preserved Cage Cup or ‘Diatreta‘ from the 4th century, The Lycurgus Cup is an outstanding achievement of the ancient glass industry, the ONLY complete example of ancient dichroic glass.
In direct light, the glass resembles jade with an opaque greenish-yellow tone. But when light shines through the glass, it magically turns to a translucent glowing ruby colour!
Fascinating Technical Deets:
- Experts couldn’t believe that ancient glassmakers could produce such amazing effects with their technical knowledge. In fact, they couldn’t believe that it was actually made of glass! The keeper of the Department of Mineralogy at The British Museum concluded that the cup was indeed made of glass, confirmed by X-ray diffraction in 1959.
- Likely made by a Master Lapidary who would have cast a thick glass blank, then cut and ground away the glass until the six figures were left in high relief, The Lycurgus Cup is decorated with openwork sections that almost stand free from the body of the vessel, connecting only by bridges to the surface of this incredible vessel.
- The skill of the artist who created this vessel consisted not only in the cutting of such an intricate design in such fragile material, but also in the design and layout of the figures, and the advantage taken of the colour effects. Tiny amounts of colloidal gold and silver give it unusual optical properties, gold being the critical colourant.
The change in colour from green to red may symbolize the ripening of the grape, and with the depiction of Dionysos and the vines on The Cup it was likely intended especially for use at banquets dedicated to Dionysus.Vessels that change colour were rare and prestigious items, worthy as gifts from the Emperor to his close relatives, as evidenced by a reference in ancient literature that might well describe The Lycurgus Cup. This excerpt is found in a letter likely written by Hadrian to his brother-in-law Severianus in Rome: “I have sent you parti-coloured cups that change colour, presented to me by the priest of a temple. They are specially dedicated to you and my sister. I would like you to use them at banquets on feast days.”
The most technically sophisticated glass objects produced before the modern era, Cage Cups demonstrate a short-lived technology.
“…the inability to control the colourant process meant that relatively few glasses of this type were produced, and even fewer survive. The Lycurgus Cup is the outstanding example in every respect – its outstanding cut work and red-green dichroism render it a unique record.”
6 Comments
Kinneret
Fascinating and well-written. Loved the pics, too. It’s great, Pam!
16 Aug 2011 11:08 pm (@Twitter)
admin
It was fascinating to learn about this very rare and special CUP to me too, Kinneret! Appreciate your reading my post and your comments! Thanks so much! Invite you to sign up to receive future posts, too! ;) Continuing on our world tour of glass at the end of August! Cheers, Pam ;)
18 Aug 2011 06:08 pm
design elements
wonderfully written! biggest hugs to you
17 Aug 2011 08:08 am (@http://twitter.com/mariasblog)
admin
So pleased to receive your fab comment, Maria! Thanks so much! ;) Really touches me, as you know what effort and dedication goes into creating a good blog post! Look forward each time, and end up drooling (LOL! ) over the amazing images you display at design elements blog! Hugs to you! Pam ;)
18 Aug 2011 06:08 pm
karen zunder
Congrats on the newsletter Your artwork rocks!
Best of luck,
Karen
18 Aug 2011 10:08 pm (@Twitter)
admin
Appreciate your fab remark, Karen! Thanks for your support!
Happy to have you on-board as a new subscriber of REFLECTIONS on GLASS ;) We look forward to continuing to intrigue you with glass art... our passion!
Cheers, Pam
22 Aug 2011 01:08 pm
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