Art Funded by you

The Lycurgus Cup

Unknown artist, 4th century

This remarkable cup depicts an episode from the legend of Lycurgus, King of the Thracians. After angering the god Dionysus by driving him to the depths of the sea, Lycurgus attacked his maenads, one of whom - Ambrosia - was saved by Mother Earth, who transformed her into a vine. The scene shows Lycurgus struggling to escape from her clinging tendrils. Tiny amounts of colloidal gold and silver in the glass give it unusual properties; it appears opaque and pea-green in reflected light, but it becomes deep wine red if held up to the light. It was probably originally used as a lamp. It is the sole complete surviving example of this type of glass, technically known as dichroic.

More information

Title of artwork, date

The Lycurgus Cup, 4th century

Date supported

1958

Medium and material

Glass

Dimensions

16.5 x 13.2 cm

Grant

2000

Total cost

20000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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