I was thinking of going to a wine tasting soon and came across a suitably neo-classical legend.
Apparently, Romans believed that drinking from a cup made of amethyst (amethustos) prevents innebriation. Aristotle wrote it was the name of a nymph that Diana was protecting from Dionysus. Unexpectedly, as is the case with most mythological stories, she was changed into a gem to enact the said protection. So then Dionysus changes the gem color to purple in rememberance, thereby making it the antidote to the bad effects of drunkeness, or maybe hangovers? I have some great amethyst slabs for the mosaics, so maybe I could pour some wine off those and deflect into the mouth? If only I had a piece large enough to hollow out a damned shot glass!
Besides amethyst, another material I'm looking for is Blue John as in the Crawford Cup in London. Apparently they sculpted this, and it was among the most prized drinking vessels of the emperors.
Speaking of Dionysus, I think I'll re-read Euripides translated account of the Bacchantes to get into the wine tasting mood.
What do you all think of this mosaic design for a table on the schedule? It would probably use lots of amethyst...
Per Italiana:
Stavo pensando di andare a una degustazione di vino e leggere una leggenda neo-classica ottimo.I romani credevano che bere da una tazza fatta di ametista (amethustos) impedisce innebriation. Aristotele è stato scritto il nome di una ninfa che Diana era la protezione da Dioniso. Inaspettatamente, come avviene con la maggior parte delle storie mitologiche, fu trasformato in un gioiello a costruire il protezione. Allora Dioniso cambia il colore al gioiello a viola in memoria de lei, così da rendere l'antidoto al male di drunkeness effetti, o forse dei postumi della sbornia?
Ho una tegola ametista grande per i mosaici, forse ho decantare versare un po 'di vino e coloro deviare in bocca? Se solo avessi un pezzo abbastanza grande da intagliare un biccierine! :)
