Acetabulum (cup)

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This article is about the vessel. For the unit of measure, see Acetabulum (unit).

In ancient dining, an acetabulum (Gr: ὀξίς, ὀξύβαφον, ὀξυβάφιον) was a vinegar-cup, which, from the fondness of the Greeks and Romans for vinegar, was probably always placed on the table at meals to dip the food in before eating it. The vessel was wide and open above; and the name was also given to all cups resembling it in size and form, to whatever use they might be applied. They were commonly of earthenware, but sometimes of silver, bronze, or gold. The cups used by jugglers in their performances were also called by this name.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates content from Smith's A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, a publication in the public domain.