Roman Lycurgus Cup explained

[guy]

 

 

 

There was a previous post on the famous Roman Lycurgus Cup (see below).

This beautiful glass vessel appears green in reflected light and deep red in transmitted light due to embedded silver and gold nanoparticles

Here is some of the research:

Researchers were able to 3D‑print a cup that changes color, similar to the ancient Lycurgus Cup. It isn’t a perfect match, partly because they don’t have exact measurements of the original cup’s colors, but it behaves the same way—one color when light shines on it, another when light shines through it. The researchers demonstrated that tiny metal particles can be used to create colors without dyes, and that these colors remain stable even after 3D printing. This could lead to new kinds of materials that change their appearance depending on the lighting or the viewing angle.

 

The Lycurgus Cup gets its name from the artwork carved into the glass, which depicts the myth of King Lycurgus, a violent Thracian ruler who attacked the god Dionysus and was punished by being trapped in a vine.

 

https://thedebrief.org/this-ancient-roman-artifacts-weird-properties-point-to-evidence-of-1600-year-old-nanotechnology-scientists-say/

 

https://www.beilstein-journals.org/bjnano/articles/11/2

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8 by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

It's no secret that reflection or refraction can change the wavelength of light rays. Newton explained how a prism works four centuries ago. Mother Nature has exploited the phenomenon to provide color without using pigments in various birds, butterflies and lizards for eons. Eg- the throat of a Ruby Throated Hummingbird only looks red from certain angles-- no feathers with red pigment.

The article states that the color changes have to do with gold & silver impurities in the glass, but that the "authorities" think it's more likely that that was accidental rather than planned...????...I don't know about their neighborhood, but around here there's not too much stray gold or silver dust flying around. I think it's way more likely that they knew what they were doing. They probably weren't as dumb as our "authorities."

Re: 3D printed objects-- note that the pattern is made by varying the thickness of the cup, providing differential refraction, a prism effect, to change colors. They did not make a printed image of the original Lycurgus Cup.