The Ischia Cup from ca. 730-720 BC has an inscription that translates to: "Nestor had a drinking cup good to drink from, but whoever drinks from this one will at once be seized by desire for fair-crowned Aphrodite." Homer's Iliad describes a cup belonging to Nestor that was beautifully crafted with gold nails and doves and required great effort for others to lift, though Nestor could lift it without strain due to his strength despite his old age.

1. Ischia Cup, ca.730-720 B.C.

2. Ischia Cup, ca. 730-720 B.C.
Inscription

3. • CEG 454: The Ischia Cup (ca.730-720 B.C.)
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• Literal translation:
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• Nestor had a drinking cup [or: I am Nestor’s drinking cup] good to drink
• from,
• but whoever drinks from this one will at once be seized
• by desire for fair-crowned Aphrodite.
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• Translation from Games of Venus (p.121):
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• Nestor's cup was quite a swill.
• Whoever drinks from this one will at once be seized
• by the need for Aphrodite of the lovely wreath.
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• Homer, Iliad 11.631-636:
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• and beside it [she laid] a beautifully wrought cup which the old man [Nestor]
brought with him
• from home. It was set with golden nails, the eared handles upon it
• were four, and on either side there were fashioned two doves
• of gold, feeding, and there were double bases beneath it.
• Another man with great effort could lift it full from the table,
• but Nestor, aged as he was, lifted it without strain
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