Corinthian Bronze? LOL
Because of Trimalchio’s mercy, the slaves burst into plausum (applause).
They were shouting out “Gaio feliciter (May it be lucky for Gaius)!” The cook was awarded a drink, argentea corona (silver crown), and a cup on a Corinthian dish. When Agamemnon began to examine the cup, Trimalchio caught our attention.
“I alone possideam Corinthea (posses the true bronze)!”
We looked to him expecting him to say how had these cups afferri Corintho (imported from Corinth). He proved us wrong.
“I got this cup from an aerarius (bronze-maker) named Corinthus! I’m not nesapium (stupid)! I know of the origins of the fabled bronze! At the fall of Troy, Hannibal collected all the statues of bronze, gold, and silver, put them in a pile, and then set it aflame. From the molten metal, artisans crafted plates, entree dishes, and statuettes. Personally, I prefer glass. If it were not so breakable, I would prefer gold as it is so cheap.”
He then went on to another story of a vitream faber (glass craftsman).
“This man had created a glass cup that could not break. He went to Caesar with his munere (gift) and gave it to him, only to ask for it back. He promptly pavimentum proiecit (threw it on the ground).
“Caesar was frightened by this, but the craftsman simply picked it up and hammered out any dents. The craftsman thought he held the throne of Jupiter. When Caesar asked him if anyone else knew how to make this, the craftsman said no. Caesar then had him beheaded. For if his invention was known, then the profit of gold would be nothing.”
