Page 98 - Manual of Roman Everyday Writing Volume 2: Writing Equipment

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Further reading and images: are rare finds of other materials including lead, tin and ivory (Derks
and Roymans 2002, 91 note 23).
Labels: Caroli 2007, 28–52; Dorandi 1984
Separators: Božič and Feugère 2004, 23–24; Sharpe III 1992, Seal boxes have long been misindentified as perfume-containers
e.g. fig. 14–21; Tomlin 2016, 252–255; Whitehorne 1996 and are easily mistaken as jewellery or other decorative elements,
particularly when badly preserved. In some cases, remains of
beeswax can be found inside them and even traces or imprints of
Selected ancient literary evidence: string (e.g. Furger et al. 2009, 32).

Separators: These are not mentioned in literary sources, but in the letter
P.Fouad 74, a scribe asks his brother to buy a number of items for him in
Alexandria, including tablets with small pieces of wood in their centre.

Labels: Suetonius (Calig. 49.3) says that two books with titles on indices
were found amongst Caligula’s possessions. Cicero (Att. 4.4a.1) asks Atticus
to send him two librarians (librarioli) to equip his library with indices,
also see Att. 4.5.4 where he states how happy he is with the result. Ovid
(Tr. 1.1.105–110) addresses his book and describes how it will join his other
works in the scrinium, all showing their tituli openly apart from the three
that teach how to love. Ovid (Ex Pont. 4.13.7–8) addressing Carus, says
that he will recognise his work even after Carus has ripped off the titulus.

Also see: fig. 2 (Pompeii still lifes); fig. 29 (stylus tablet from Vindonissa).

f) Other accessories sometimes associated with
writing equipment

Seal box

Seal boxes are small, hinged boxes consisting of a lid and a base
that measure between 2–5 cm in length. They are mostly cast
copper-alloy and come in various shapes, e.g. circular, rectangular
and leaf-shaped. Usually, there are a number of small holes in the
bottom of the base and two slots or notches, one in each side of
the lid or the base. Many have decorations on the lid, for example
separately cast relief ornaments or colourful enamel inlays. Older Fig. 72: Decorated seal boxes from Augusta Raurica. From
examples from the Mediterranean were carved from bone and there Furger et al. 2009, 226 pl. 16 (detail). © Augusta Raurica.