Scientists rediscover how to make ancient Roman colour-changing glass
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have successfully replicated the ancient Roman technique used to create the Lycurgus Cup. The 1,600-year-old glass artifact changes color from green to red depending on the light source due to the presence of gold and silver nanocrystals.
Why it matters
This discovery bridges the gap between ancient craftsmanship and modern nanotechnology, revealing that Roman artisans possessed advanced knowledge of materials science.
The Lycurgus Cup appears jade green under normal lighting and ruby red when lit from behind. Composite: British Museum The Lycurgus Cup appears jade green under normal lighting and ruby red when lit from behind. Composite: British Museum Archaeology ‘It’s magic’: scientists rediscover how to make ancient Roman colour-changing glass Exclusive: Optical engineering that went into 1,600-year-old Lycurgus Cup has baffled experts for centuries
Prefer the Guardian on Google The Romans’ proficiency in the art of glass-making has produced some of the wonders of antiquity, but few of their creations better a 1,600-year-old masterpiece which sits in the British Museum .
Depending on where a light source is positioned, the Lycurgus Cup changes colour, from jade green under normal lighting to ruby red when lit from behind – an astonishing feat of optical engineering that has confounded historians and glass-makers for centuries.
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