Nestor's Cup - The Cup of Nestor in The Iliad

The Cup of Nestor in The Iliad

The Iliad of Homer describes a magnificent golden cup (depas) that belongs to Nestor, the king of Pylos:

Beside these she set a cup,
a magnificent work Nestor had brought from home,
studded with gold. There were four handles on it,
around each one a pair of golden doves was feeding.
Below were two supports. When that cup was full,
another man could hardly lift it from the table,
but, old as he was, Nestor picked it up with ease.

(translation by Ian Johnston)

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