When we talk about the ancient world like ancient Greece and Roman Empire, people always think that those civilizations are technologically unsophisticated. However, the truth may just be the opposite. Archeologists and historians who research in the science and technology in the ancient time discover some astonishing fact that ancient civilization actually possesses highly advanced technology.
Although there are many construction and invention can prove that highly advanced technology existed in the ancient time, I am going to focus on the Lycurgus cup in this article. The Lycurgus cup is believed to be created in around 4th century AD, and it is a piece of glass work shows that technically sophisticated glass work existed in Roman Empire. The most amazing feature of this cup is that it creates different optic effect depending on whether there's a light pass through or not. When the light shines from outside of the cup, the cup looks green. When the light passes through the cup from the inside, the cup looks red. When scientists use the microscope to examine the cup, they found that there are nanoparticles of gold and silver alloy. Scientists believe that those gold and silver alloy particles are the key to the unusual optic effect. The fact that those particles are in nanoscale indicates that Roman Empire might possess some sort of nanotechnology. The optic effect created by the cup also shows that people at that time have certain level of knowledge in optic. Interestingly, the coloring effect of this cup is a form of the thing film interference in physics. (Thin film interference is basically describing that material with the different index of refraction allows different color of light to pass through and reflect the different color of light.) We may assume that people in that period of time had already known the thin film interference and was able to manipulate the color of the light that passes through the glass.
Not only the optic effect of the cup shows that Roman Empire possesses advanced technology, the fabrication of the Lycurgus cup also shows that some advanced tool or machine existed in that period of time. From the fabrication of the cup, scientists believe that the cup was cut and grind by a high speed spinning tool. The surface of the cup seems to be polished by some sort of spinning tool too. This discovery shows that people in Roman Empire had knowledge of creating spinning power tool and controlling the speed of spinning.
When we talk about ancient civilizations, we always think that people at that time did not have advanced scientific knowledge and technology. However, if we study the history and dive into the ancient science and technology, our mind will be blown away. The Lycurgus cup is just one of the creations in ancient time that shows how advanced the ancient technology was. This amazing glass work which creates unusual optic effect also shows us that we never know the truth before we study and dive deeper.
Although there are many construction and invention can prove that highly advanced technology existed in the ancient time, I am going to focus on the Lycurgus cup in this article. The Lycurgus cup is believed to be created in around 4th century AD, and it is a piece of glass work shows that technically sophisticated glass work existed in Roman Empire. The most amazing feature of this cup is that it creates different optic effect depending on whether there's a light pass through or not. When the light shines from outside of the cup, the cup looks green. When the light passes through the cup from the inside, the cup looks red. When scientists use the microscope to examine the cup, they found that there are nanoparticles of gold and silver alloy. Scientists believe that those gold and silver alloy particles are the key to the unusual optic effect. The fact that those particles are in nanoscale indicates that Roman Empire might possess some sort of nanotechnology. The optic effect created by the cup also shows that people at that time have certain level of knowledge in optic. Interestingly, the coloring effect of this cup is a form of the thing film interference in physics. (Thin film interference is basically describing that material with the different index of refraction allows different color of light to pass through and reflect the different color of light.) We may assume that people in that period of time had already known the thin film interference and was able to manipulate the color of the light that passes through the glass.
Not only the optic effect of the cup shows that Roman Empire possesses advanced technology, the fabrication of the Lycurgus cup also shows that some advanced tool or machine existed in that period of time. From the fabrication of the cup, scientists believe that the cup was cut and grind by a high speed spinning tool. The surface of the cup seems to be polished by some sort of spinning tool too. This discovery shows that people in Roman Empire had knowledge of creating spinning power tool and controlling the speed of spinning.
When we talk about ancient civilizations, we always think that people at that time did not have advanced scientific knowledge and technology. However, if we study the history and dive into the ancient science and technology, our mind will be blown away. The Lycurgus cup is just one of the creations in ancient time that shows how advanced the ancient technology was. This amazing glass work which creates unusual optic effect also shows us that we never know the truth before we study and dive deeper.
Hi Wind,
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite posts by far! You should write more and I'll introduce your blog to my students again! ( Good thing is I always have new students coming in and I'm sure they will like your blog!) Keep up the good work.