Page 11 - Manual of Roman Everyday Writing Volume 2: Writing Equipment

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1. Introduction to writing equipment

riting equipment is key for the comprehensive study of
WRoman handwriting, non-monumental inscriptions and
literacy. Cost, material and design of the equipment and how
it was used had an impact on many aspects of writing such
as letter shapes, document layout and who was writing. Im-
portantly, the equipment also has an impact on what kinds of
ancient handwritten texts have survived and therefore on our
understanding of writing in antiquity. However, for a long time,
research paid little attention to Roman writing equipment. One
reason for this neglect is that finds of writing implements are
often difficult to recognise and can end up labelled incorrectly
or undetected with other small finds. Styli have been mistaken
for hairpins, spindles or nails, spatulas and penknives have been
categorised as razor knives, inkwells as pyxides and seal boxes
as anything from jewellery to salt and pepper shakers (see e.g.
Božič and Feugère 2004; Furger et al. 2009, 17). What is more,
instruments such as spatulas and tools with a metal point are far
from monofunctional and can often only be identified as writing
implements through context and associated finds.

Despite such difficulties, the study of ancient writing equipment has
seen increasing and sustained interest over the past four decades.
Collections of writing implements were highlighted and described Fig. 2: Wall paintings from Pompeii (Italy) showing still lifes with
(e.g. Bilkei 1980), typologies were made (e.g. Gaitzsch 1984), and various writing implements, 1st century CE. Museo Archeologico
some objects were newly associated with writing equipment (see Nazionale di Napoli, inv. 4675, 8598, 4676, 9819. By permission
the important publications by Božič and Feugère). of the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali e per il Turismo –
Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. Photos by Giorgio Albano.