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Religious Uses: Pagan, Hebrew, and Christian: Sacro

The famous "Sacro Catino" preserved in Genoa was long believed to be made of a single immense emerald, but careful investigation proved that it was of no more valuable material than green glass. A legend still current in the early part of the sixteenth century represented this cup or dish, as having been used by Christ at the Last Supper, and stated that it was one of the utensils which King Herod ordered to be brought from Galilee to Jerusalem for the celebration of the paschal feast; but his purpose having been changed by Divine Providence, he made other use of it. (Erasmi Stellae, "Interpretamentum Gemmarum," 3d ed., Erfurti et Lipsiae, 1736).