The Lycurgus Cup. In the 1950’s the British Museum acquired one of the most amazing archaeological finds from Ancient Rome. The Lycurgus Cup is a beautiful 1,600 year old goblet crafted from glass by the Ancient Romans. The cup depicts the punishment of Lycurgus, a mythical king who was ensnared in vines for committing evil acts against the Greek god Dionysus. The craftsmanship and artwork of the cup are certainly amazing on their own. During the age of the Roman Empire the Romans were master glassmakers, producing some of the finest pieces of glassware in history. However the Lycurgus cup has one incredible property that is goes far beyond traditional glassmaking. When exposed to light, the cup turns from jade green into a bright, glowing red color. For decades historians, archaeologists, and scientists had no idea why this occurred or how the Romans made the cup with such light changing properties.
