CYPRUS CATCH-UP cont. Roman Glass at the Kition Museum in Cyprus is displayed in a single room but to stunning effect. Heres just a selection ... A wealth of colour, shape and craftsmanship engulf you on all sides and the lasting impression is that daily Roman life was FULL of glassware. The Romans adoption of the relatively new skill of glassblowing enabled them to make it their own. And its non-porousness and ability to resist being tainted with taste or scent put it way, way above regular pottery. Imagine the newness of its translucent (if not always transparent) qualities and the endless shapes that could be made into - this was surely, to the Romans, a modern marvel. There were bottles for expensive perfumes and oils that adorned ladies rooms; and medicine holders; and ones that might be oil bottles for use at the baths; there was a plethora of glass tableware of different shapes, sizes, and purposes and larger bottles and jars for drinks and everyday use; and, oh, the colours! There were novelty bottles for sauces, designed to catch your attention and create a talking point; and glass jewellery - beads, bangles and ear-rings - were a familiar sight on the body and no doubt on countless market stalls. And, as an archaeologist, it always amazes me that ANY of this fragile glass survives for 2,000 years intact! If youre in Cyprus, this is a must-see surprise of a museum!
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 19:00:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015