Cup-bearers

founder of Akkadian Empire

son of Tros in Greek mythology

ancient Greek goddess of youth

politician from England (1592-1628)

thumb|right|Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem, illustration by Adolf Hult, 1919 Nehemiah (; ) is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period as the governor of Yehud Medinata, the autonomous province of Judea within the Achaemenid Empire, under Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC).

thumb|Ganymede and the Eagle, sculpture by [[Bertel Thorvaldsen, c. 1817]] A cup-bearer was historically an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty was to pour and serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues (such as poisoning), a person had to be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold the position. He would guard against poison in the king's cup, and was sometimes required to swallow some of the drink before serving it. His confidential relations with the king often gave him a position of great influence.

Pinkernes (), sometimes also epinkernes (, epinkernēs), was a high Byzantine court position.

Miecław (; 10th/11th century – 1047) was a cup-bearer of king Mieszko II Lambert, who in c. 1038 had proclaimed independence of the state that he ruled, from the Duchy of Poland, beginning the rebellion that lasted until his death in 1047.