During the Mughal era, kings and emperors had special equipment to prevent assassination attempts by enemies. One such notable invention from that era, which is rare today, was a glass that could detect poison. This unique glass, made entirely of cast glass, had a special feature. If poison was added to any drink contained in it, the glass would reveal the danger. This historical item from the Mughal era is still kept by archaeologists in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Dr Subhash Mane, an archaeological collector and doctor, told Local18 that this glass is 400 years old and dates back to the Mughal era. It was made from a metal called Kasa. Inside the metal structure, there is a glass component that can detect poison. If someone tried to poison the water by adding insecticide or any other poison, the glass at the bottom would change colour. This colour change would alert the kings about the conspiracy against them. Considering that there were frequent attempts to assassinate kings and emperors using poison at that time, such a jar was extremely valuable for their protection.
When poison or pesticides are added to the water in this particular jar, a green or red colour starts appearing when you look through it. This colour change signals that the water has been tampered with. In recognition of this, people would avoid drinking the water, thus saving their lives.
Besides its safety features, this jar is also a piece of art from the Mughal era. It has been delicately engraved with images of Shahjahan and Mumtaz with mint, showing the intricate craftsmanship of the time. The jar is half a foot tall and can hold half a litre of water.
Dr Subhash Mane has been collecting such historical items for over 40 years. He offers free educational sessions to students about these artefacts and shares his knowledge and passion for archaeology without charging any fees.
Comments
0 comment