6 Incredible Technologies of the Past Whose Secrets are Lost

In ancient times, much knowledge and many discoveries were passed strictly from master to apprentice. And if this chain was broken, the principle of the invention could be lost forever.

Having dug through history, FunnyModo collected for you 6 technologies of the past whose secrets didn’t survive to this day.

Lycurgus Cup

This ancient Roman cup depicting the death of King Lycurgus has an interesting feature: it changes color depending on the lighting and liquid inside. For example, it’s green in shadow and red in the light. If you pour water inside, it’ll be blue; if it’s oil — yellow-red.

Scientists think the cup was used to detect impurities in beverages. The cup is made from the smallest nanoparticles of gold and silver. This means the ancient masters were aware of something we call nanotechnologies. However, no one can make a thing like it to this day.

Free Energy

Nikola Tesla was a genius inventor and designed many fantastic things. In 1901, he built Wardenclyffe Tower which was able to transmit electricity anywhere in the world and provide people with free energy.

Unfortunately, Tesla’s laboratory funding ended, and the tower was soon destroyed. After his death, part of his inventions’ drawings was captured and the other part disappeared mysteriously.

The Sound of Spirit

The Hypogeum of Hal-Saflieni is the oldest underground sanctuary. Its most interesting part is “The Oracle Chamber.” The sounds produced there with a deep male voice are several times intensified, echoing all over the structure; the rest of the sounds cannot be heard at all.

Scientists are still trying to figure out how the ancient amplifier works. It’s known that sounds resonate with such frequency that people feel the vibration with their whole body. This effect causes a change in consciousness and the appearance of hallucinations.

Flexible Glass

Between 14 B.C. and 37 B.C., there was a glassblower who discovered a substance called flexible glass. He made a cup with this material for Emperor Tiberius. When the emperor drank from the cup and threw it to the floor, it didn’t break.

Tiberius decided the amazing material could devalue gold and silver. He ordered the execution of the glassblower to let the secret die with him.

Greek Fire

Greek fire was a burning mixture used by the Byzantines in naval battles. It was a copper tube that released a 25-30m fiery stream. Greek fire was impossible to extinguish, burning even on water. Over time, the weapon was replaced by gunpowder, and the recipe was lost.

The Universal Antidote

Mithridates VI was king of Pontus in 120-63 B.C. He was so afraid of being poisoned that for 7 years he adapted his body to different poisons. He mixed 54 ingredients and received the universal antidote.

After his death, doctors found out the antidote helped with any type of poisoning. They called the mixture mithridatium, or theriac. However, the recipe and ingredients remained unknown.

Preview photo credit wikimedia