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This silver kantharos, from around 50 B.C., was found in the House of the Menander in Pompeii. It is a drinking cup of extremely fine quality, with a decoration of olives and leaves. The olives have been made separately and applied to the cup, giving it a sculptural quality. The production of olive oil was a significant industry at Pompeii, as was the production of wine—both are commemorated in this cup, which was used for the consumption of wine.
The ancient Romans had well defined dining customs, which ideally used specific pieces of serving silver. The entire service of silver was known as the ministerium. Utensils like the kantharos above were used to serve beverages and were known as the argentum potorium, while food service utensils were known as the argentum escarium. |
