The Warren Cup

by Dyfri Williams

This is the book to accompany a special display at the British Museum, telling the unique story of this exquisitely crafted Roman silver drinking cup, engraved with erotic scenes. (Takes place between 11th May and 2nd July, 2006). Created in the first century AD, and after being condemned to an undeserved obscurity for too long, the cup shows a pair of male lovers in explicit homoerotic scenes that reflect the mores of the time and region in which the cup was created and used. The book celebrates how this important and beautiful materpiece of Roman art challenges contemporary viewers to look beyond current social and religious environments for its worthwhile appreciation. Beautifully created in a masterful way that has enabled it to survive for hundreds of years, the Warren cup is a very special recent addition to the Museum's collection that is sure to fascinate visitors for years to come.

Genres: Art, History, LGBT

64 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2006

Reviews

[Monty Milne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but fascinating study of a beautiful object. There is much that intrigues. The author makes a convincing case that the figures being represented are all Greek citizens (rather than Romans, or slaves). How then did it come to be owned by a wealthy Roman in Palestine, and why was it found buried in a hole near Jerusalem? These intriguing questions are carefully considered. The cup itself is given a detailed description with excellent illustrations, which make clear what an impressive work of art it is.

There is also much information on the eponymous collector, Ned Warren, who was clearly a man of exquisite taste and judgment in matters of art, if not perhaps in the choice of his companions. (If it were not for Warren there would be no Rodin's Kiss in the Tate). Also considered is the after life of the cup, and how it - and other works of art from antiquity - were for many years hidden away in secret museum basements until recent times.

Something which Williams doesn't address is that the liberalisation which allowed the Warren Cup to come out of the shadows a generation ago is apparent, not real. Never mind that the sexual acts depicted are clearly loving and consensual: there is clearly a gap in age and status between both pairs of lovers, and this is enough to damn them before the contemporary purveyors of moral panic. The cup was almost certainly in use at the same time, and almost in the same place, where Jesus walked. It was probably hidden to escape the Jewish revolt of AD 66, and remained hidden in modern times because the moral and cultural attitudes of the west were, and are, still shaped by Judaeo-Christianity. One could therefore read its intriguing history as a parable for the long shadow of intolerance cast by our Judaeo-Christian heritage. "Thou hast conquered, O Pale Galilean..."

[piratesPencil · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting deep dive into one particular object from the British Museum. Short but with some good information about Greek and Roman art and culture, especially in relation to sexuality.

[C. B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was compelled to read this short book after a very moving trip to the British Museum. I'd spent most of the day looking at Roman perfume bottles, and I was walking briskly through the main Roman gallery en route to Minoan Crete when the cup came into my vision. I recalled reading about it, and despite having been to the museum many times I'd never knowingly looked at it. I thought that on this occasion I ought to. So, wedged between East Asian tourists, I had my religious experience with the piece.

The book does well to express my feelings about it. It's a very sensual piece, and open to a very satisfying amount of debate as to its meaning. I find it incredible how well crafted the cup is; the images are amazingly clear and modern looking compared to similar works from the period displayed in the book.
The cup's modern history is intriguing too; the controversial figure of Edward Perry Warren deserves further reading I think.

Anyway, the book does a good job of bringing together a selection of topics to do with the cup, including a detailed description of what is depicted and the physical condition of the cup. Really the price of the book is worth it just for the great photographs. Fascinating and beautiful.

[Corno De · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Warren Cup is one of those intriguing objects from the past that managed to survive more than 2000 years. It is impossible to have an object show more explicit homosexual love-making than this silver cup. It was such a pleasure to see the object with my own eyes and read about its history.

[Mayze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible analysis of a difficult to understand piece of artwork. However, Williams' analysis of the piece as a Roman perspective on Greek pederasty, although compelling, fails to acknowledge several other valuable analyses of the piece.