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| roman wax tablet and styli | ||||
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When writing was first invented by the Sumerians, the characters were impressed into clay tablets with an implement made from wood, bone or metal. Later the Egyptians used brushes made from reeds, one end of which had to be chewed to form the bristles They also used pens made from reeds, one end of which was shaped and resembled a pen nib. The Romans continued to use reed pens and brushes but also a tablet made from a wooden frame and back into which wax was poured and left to set. The letters were produced by writing in the wax with the pointed end of a metal stylus, whilst the other end was flattened to be used as an eraser. In rarer cases the writing and eraser ends were separate and each had a chamfered end that was fitted into a wooden shaft, like those on the right of the picture. Usually these tablets were used on their own, but frequently were also joined to other tablets, by leather laces through the pierced frames, to form a book. For the finest collection of Greek and Roman artefacts, visit the The British Museum. |
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