Early Imperial, Neronian or early Flavian

Glᴀss gladiator cup, Glᴀss, Roman

Translucent greenish yellow.

Everted, unworked, knocked-off rim; slightly irregular and oval-shaped body with vertical sides; convex undercurve with low base ring; flat but uneven bottom. A continuous mold seam runs from rim, down sides (concealed by palm fronds), and across bottom.

On body, two friezes run around the sides; the upper and narrower frieze contains four names, widely spaced; the lower frieze, flanked above and below by a horizontal ridge, is broader and comprises two scenes divided by vertical palm fronds, each containing two pairs of gladiators in varying stances with four names inserted between them at the top of the scenes.

ipernity: Roman Glᴀss Gladiator Cup in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, July  2007 - by LaurieAnnie

Broken and repaired, but with some losses to rim and body; a few pinprick and larger bubbles, and a few gritty impurities; slight dulling and pitting, and faint iridescent weathering.

Ars Vitraria: Glᴀss in The Metropolitan Museum of Art - The Metropolitan  Museum of Art

The scene around the cup depicts four pairs of gladiators fighting. Each man is identified by name in the Latin inscription above him. Some of the names match those of known gladiators who became famous in games held in Rome during the Julio-Claudian period, suggesting that such cups may have been made as souvenirs.

Related Posts

THE GIANT ARTHROPLEURA REMAINS: A SIGNIFICANT PALEONTOLOGICAL DISCOVERY IN EUROPE

The discovery of Arthropleura remains—a colossal arthropod that lived during the late Carboniferous period (approximately 315–299 million years ago)—has become one of the most remarkable paleontological events…

The Ancient Herbal Laboratory of Armenia: A 40,000-Year-Old Archaeological Discovery

The discovery of a prehistoric herbal processing site inside a cave in southern Armenia has reshaped our understanding of early human knowledge, technology, and survival strategies. Radiocarbon…

THE PYRAMID HERITAGE ON EARTH AND PYRAMID-LIKE LANDFORMS ON MARS: A COMPARATIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL APPROACH

I. Introduction In the history of archaeology, the pyramids of Earth—especially the Giza pyramid complex in Egypt—stand as one of the most remarkable achievements of human civilization…

The ‘Bending Stone’: An Enigmatic Artifact in Early Lithic Archaeology

In the field of archaeology, certain artifacts compel researchers to pause—not only for their unusual beauty but also for the profound questions they raise about origin, technique,…

Acropolis of Athens: history, architecture and facts

If you’re interested in politics, philosophy or history, then the astounding Acropolis of Athens should be number one on your bucket list. This extraordinary complex is widely regarded as…

Unlocking the Secrets of a 3,500-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy

The Extraordinary Discovery that Captivated the World In the heart of Egypt, where the sands of time have preserved the secrets of an ancient civilization, archaeologists have…