Artefact: The Warren Cup

On this day (January, 8) in 1860 was born Edward Perry Warren, known as Ned Warren, an American art-lover and collector. Warren is now best known as the former owner of the Warren Cup, now exhibited in the British Museum.

The Warren Cup, created early in the first century AD, is a remarkably important and beautiful masterpiece of Roman art. It is made of silver with a little copper, and small traces of gold and lead. The scenes on either side show a pair of male lovers in low relief.

On one side (image above) the erastes (older, active lover) is bearded and wears a wreath while the eromenos (younger ‘beloved’, passive) is a beardless youth. A servant tentatively comes through a door. In the background is a draped textile, and a kithara (lyre) resting on a chest. (Source)

In the scene on the other side (image above) the erastes is beardless, while the eromenos is just a boy. Auloi (pipes) are suspended over the background textile, and folded textiles are lying on a chest. (Source)

To learn more about this luxurious silver cup, listen to this A History of the World in 100 Objects podcast about the Warren Cup.

Further photos of the Warren Cup can be viewed from my image collection on Flickr.