Battle of Pliska
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The Battle of Pliska or Battle of Vărbitsa Pass was a series of battles between the forces of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Nicephorus I, and the First Bulgarian Empire under Khan Krum in July 81
The Battle of Pliska, depicted in the 14th century Manasses Chronicle.
Nicephorus I.
Bulgarian Khan Krum the Fearsome feasts with his nobles as a servant (right) brings him the skull of Nikephoros I, fashioned into a drinking cup, full of wine.
Skull cup
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A skull cup is a cup or eating bowl made from an inverted human calvaria that has been cut away from the rest of the skull. The use of a human skull as a drinking cup in ritual use or as a trophy is r
Battle of Pliska
…Krum encased the skull of Nicephorus in silver, and used it as a cup for drinking. This is one of the most documented instances of the custom of the skull cup. The Battle of Pliska was one of the worst defeats in Byzantine history. It deterred Byzantine rulers from sending their troops north of the Balkans…
The skull cup from Gough's Cave
Hindu deity Bhairava with a kapala (skull cup) in his hand
Pietro della Vecchia - Rosamund forced to drink from the skull of her father Cunimund