It was a smart wine cup which had an axial or curved siphon and a line that determined the limit of its filling. When one filled it excessively, the level of liquid covered the siphon and emptied automatically. It is considered an invention of Pythagoras (6th century B.C.) who wanted to teach his students the need for compliance with moderation. It is also called the cup of justice because it reflects the basic principles of justice (hubris and nemesis). When the limit was exceeded (hubris), lost was not only that which exceeded the limit but also that which had been acquired up to then (punishment). In other words, it expresses the Greek proverb “The one that wants all, will embrace nothing”.