Ure Museum | Database

cite as: https://uremuseum.org/record/2018.6.1

Accession_Number

2018.6.1

Shape

Writing tablet

Shape_description

A writing tablet, with bored holes that evidence the hinge whereby it was once attached, with a cord, to a second tablet. It was once inlaid with a wax surface, within a rectangular frame, on which the writer would have scratched words with a stylus. The wax has worn away or been removed from our tablet, whereupon each side was painted white, on which ancient Greek words were written.

Material

Wood; wax

Fabric

Romano-Egyptian

Fabric_description

Munsell_color

Decoration

Inscriptions

Cursive Greek writing in black on both sides. On one side the writing refers to a measure of wine. The other side documents the sale of grain and other foods.

Condition

The holes along the edge may have been made to bind the tablet to a lid or another tablet with cord. The grooves may be where excess wax was scraped off the stylus. There are several perforations down one edge, which would have allowed several such tablets to be strung together to form a book. One of the raised edges has been broken off. Some surface wear and staining.

Technique/Style

Provenance

Egypt

Period

Late antique

Date

4 c AD

Dating_details

The writing on one side, which refers to a measure of wine, uses a specific unit that helped us to determine that it was written in the 4th century AD.

Artist

Attribution

Image

2018.99.0001.jpg	Oblique view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.
2018.99.0002.jpg	Oblique view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.
2018.99.0003.jpg	Oblique view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.
2018.99.0004.jpg	Oblique view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.
2018.99.0005.jpg	Oblique view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.
2018.99.0006.jpg	Oblique view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.
2018.99.0007.jpg	Front view of a Romano-Egyptian wax tablet, with Greek writing in black ink on a painted white surface.