Page 92 - Manual of Roman Everyday Writing Volume 2: Writing Equipment

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Compasses or dividers and (folding) measures were used to transfer the – sometimes surprisingly imprecise – scale (see e.g. Heinz
constant distances on surfaces that were to be written on. Both 1991; Fellmann 2009, 37–38). Folding measures would have been
tools were also used in contexts other than writing but they are particularly useful in a writing context as they measure one Roman
sometimes found together with other writing equipment, particularly foot (around 29.5 cm) and are easy to transport. They usually consist
in funerary contexts (Božič and Feugère 2004, 41). of two halves (but see Feugère 1983) that are equal in length and
joined with a metal hinge. The two parts are square in section and
the scale is indicated with grooves (Deschler-Erb 1998, 144).

The Anthologia Palatina (6.62–66) also mentions rulers but these
are difficult to identify archaeologically. For possible rulers see
below on bone spatulate strips.

Fig. 67: Compasses/dividers from Augusta Raurica (Switzerland),
the one on the left dates to 45–70 CE. Augusta Raurica, inv.
2002.064.E06470.1 and 1963.9685. From Fünfschilling
2012, 196 fig. 50 (detail). © Augusta Raurica.

Roman compasses/dividers are usually made of copper-alloy or
iron, sometimes a combination of both. They also served to sketch
out circles or segments, for which an iron point would have served
well. The two compasses are joined at the top with a metal peg to
create a hinge. In some cases, a mechanism allows the hinge to
be fixed in a certain position. Compasses/dividers come in various Fig. 68: Wooden measures from Vindonissa (Switzerland),
dimensions which may correspond to their use in different crafts 1st century CE. Vindonissa Museum, inv. 1941:2 and 13.709.
and trades (Fünfschilling 2012, 196).
Drawing from Fellmann 2009, pl. 6; photo © Kantonsarchäologie
Roman measures can be made of bone, copper-alloy or wood. They Aargau, CH - 5200 Brugg, Béla A. Polyvás.
are not unlike their modern counterparts: elongated rectangular
strips, rectangular in section, with grooves and marks that indicate