DescriptionRoman Chalice (kantharos) made of Fluorite (51232668082).jpg
This fluorite chalice (kantharos) produced in 500-100 AD is exceptional: only two copies are known throughout the Roman Empire. Fluorite was extracted in the region of present-day Iran. It is extremely fragile and the pieces are rarely large enough to be make it into a goblet. Wealthy Romans were fond of these expensive objects. In a goblet like this, the wine had a particular taste, because the fragile fluorite was clogged with hot resin, which penetrated like a kind of glue. It gave the wine a smell and a taste reminiscent of resin. According to the Roman author Pliny, the emperor
Nero once paid a million sesterces to acquire such a cup. This cup was found in Cilicia, modern Turkey. Now in the British Museum, inv. 1971.0419.1. Picture taken at the Oog in oog met de Romeinen (Eye to Eye with the Romans) Exhibition in the Gallo-Romeins Museum of Tongres.
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