Porphyry bowl - the largest surviving bowl of antiquity (3 photos)
6 June 2024
The porphyry bowl in the Vatican Museum is the largest solid stone bowl of antiquity. 
The bowl is made from a giant piece of porphyry.
Porphyry is a name given to a whole group of volcanic rocks. Porphyry is a universal material. In ancient times, axes, fonts, busts, sarcophagi were made from it... Porphyry was a universal material.
The diameter of the bowl is almost 15 meters. 
The cup was originally placed in the palace of Emperor Nero in Rome. She was later transported to the Vatican, where she remains to this day. 
The reddish tint of the bowl is due to the presence of the mineral hematite. The rich color was achieved through polishing with wax and oil. The bowl is mounted on a bronze slab with four lion legs.
