Discover How This 400-Year-Old Mughal Era Drinking Glass Detects Poison
In a fascinating discovery shedding light on the ingenious measures taken by Mughal emperors to thwart assassination attempts, archaeologists in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, have unearthed a remarkable artifact from over four centuries ago.?
This relic, a glass designed to detect poison, stands as a testament to the cunning strategies employed by rulers of that era to safeguard themselves against nefarious plots.
Mechanism of Mughal era poison-detecting drinking glass
Dr. Subhash Mane, a devoted collector and esteemed archaeologist, unveiled the significance of this ancient find. As per a News 18 report featuring Mane, this unique glass, crafted entirely from cast glass and a metal known as Kasa, possesses extraordinary properties.?
"If someone tried to poison the water by adding insecticide or any other poison, the glass at the bottom would change color," Dr. Mane explained. This ingenious mechanism served as a silent sentinel, alerting kings to potential threats lurking in their midst.
Describing the intricate workings of the glass, Dr. Mane elaborated on its functionality: "When poison or pesticides are added to the water in this particular jar, a green or red color starts appearing when you look through it." Such a transformation served as a clear warning sign, prompting individuals to steer clear of the tainted water and thus ensuring their safety.
Beyond its utilitarian purpose, this artifact stands as a masterpiece of Mughal artistry. Adorned with delicate engravings depicting Shahjahan and Mumtaz amidst a backdrop of mint, the jar exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of its time.?
Standing at half a foot tall and capable of holding half a liter of water, it serves as both a practical tool and a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Mughal era.
Dr. Subhash Mane, whose passion for archaeology spans over four decades, has made it his mission to educate future generations about these invaluable relics. Through free educational sessions offered to students, he endeavors to share his wealth of knowledge and ignite a similar fascination for archaeology among young minds. With each artifact he unveils, Dr. Mane unravels another chapter of history, preserving the legacy of bygone eras for generations to come.
Poisoned food changed Mughal eating habits??
The Mughal dynasty's relationship with food and drink was profoundly altered by the initial betrayal through poisoned food. Beginning with Babur surviving an assassination attempt by Lodi's mother, Dilawar Begum, despite his kindness towards her family, the Mughals developed a deep-seated fear of poison, according to a The Hindu report.
This fear persisted through generations, leading to a culture of suspicion and caution around every meal. Even as Mughal cuisine flourished into an exquisite blend of Central Asian techniques and Hindustani spices under Akbar's reign, the specter of poisoning haunted the empire, with alcoholism and opium abuse rampant among the nobility, and deadly competition for the throne driving family members to resort to poisoning their rivals.
As the Mughal Empire grew wealthier and more powerful, the stakes of maintaining power became higher, and the threat of poison became a constant concern for the ruling elite. From Jahangir's struggle with alcoholism to Aurangzeb's ruthless use of poison to eliminate rivals like Suleiman Mirza, every sliver of food and every sip of drink carried the fear of betrayal and assassination.?
Women like Jahanara Begum and Sati al-Nisa Begum played crucial roles in safeguarding the emperor's food, illustrating the extent of the paranoia surrounding dining in the Mughal court. Ultimately, the fear of poison, fueled by betrayals like Babur's survival of Dilawar Begum's attempt on his life, became deeply ingrained in Mughal culture, shaping their attitudes towards food and drink for generations to come.
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