Considering that most of the wine glasses and other glasses that have always been used to drink wine are made of a fragile material (glass, ceramics, porcelain or silver) and shapes (stemless wine glasses for example) , it is surprising that many have arrived intact to this day.
The copones, a pair of shallow, two-handled cups, were used in antiquity by Greeks and Romans. This type of wine glass was easy to pass from one to the other at banquets, assisted by slaves who also took care that the copones (big wine glasses made of wood or precious metals and stones) were always well served, for which they used large jars.
As the wine, usually red wine, was almost always served dissolved in herbs, spices and other additives (something like actual vermouth), sometimes with unexpected results, the assistants who brought the wine from the cellars had the obligation to taste it before serving it into tghe wine glasses.
The formal wine glasses, such as those that should have been offered to guests of honor, both in Antiquity and in the Middle Age, were often very decorated and, since they had a respectable capacity, they were provided with two handles to facilitate the commensal who passed the cup could hold it safely. The custom of passing the wine glass from one to another, already practiced before the Christian era, contained the ritual meaning of camaraderie and trust.
How wine glasses were centuries ago?
In many cases, these glasses were provided with lids. Many opinions have been expressed about this detail, but it was most likely a practical matter: in a covered cup it was more difficult to cast any poison or foreign substance without being warned by those present.
And although gold is a metal better considered than silver, it is the latter that is still commonly used. The explanation is that, since ancient times, it was already known that silver is less transmitting of infections than gold, which is a softer metal.