What were tablets made out of in Ancient Rome?
Tablets were an integral part of Roman culture in the formative centuries of their civilization. As navigators and settlers, they used tablets to record daily activities such as weather, business, and religious observances. They were so important to the Romans that Caesar even used tablets for his famous dictum – alarming his enemies of his swift approach. In fact, tablets have been part of many cultures since the dawn of written communication. However, what exactly were these tablets made out of?
In Ancient Rome, tablets were usually made of wax or clay. Wax tablets had a wooden or bone frame and were filled with a softened beeswax or tablet wax. A stylus would be used to write words, numbers and drawings onto the tablet. The wax would eventually get reused by re-smoothing it. Clay tablets presented another option to use in Ancient Rome. High-fired clay was used to make the tablets which could be bought in a variety of sizes and shapes. The surface of the tablet was then inscribed with a stylus. Clay tablets were often waterproof and easier to transport than wax tablets as they were a lot lighter.
How were writing tablets used?
Writing tablets were used in two main ways in Ancient Rome. Firstly they were used to organize the daily activities of Roman citizens. There were different types of tablets available such as wax, clay and papyrus. Each of these had a different use depending on what was required. wax tablets were used for personal letters and memoranda, clay tablets for official documents, and papyrus scrolls for long documents. All these tablets were also used for record keeping. Roman historians used to record events, laws, and correspondence on different types of tablets.
Writing tablets weren’t only used for keeping records. Ancient authors and scholars used wax and clay tablets to record their thoughts, comments and observations. With a wax tablet, the stability of the wax made it perfect for writing and erasing multiple times. This meant that authors and scholars could keep track of their ideas, revise them, and even make additions as they developed their thought process. In short, writing tablets were an important form of communication and organization during this period of Ancient Rome.
Are there any surviving examples of Roman tablets?
Yes, there are numerous surviving tablets that were written and used in Ancient Rome. In 1444, the archaeological discovery of the Villa of the Papyri near Herculaneum, Italy revealed a library of papyrus scrolls. Some of these scrolls were recorded in Latin and Greek, while others had never been discovered until then. This enabled historians to gain a greater understanding of Roman culture and its use of writing tablets at the time.
Clay tablets have also been recovered and studied for centuries. These tablets often contain valuable information about Law, Religion, History, and Business in Ancient Rome. These tablets have survived the test of time and continue to fascinate archaeologists and historians today and give us an insight into the lives of Ancient Romans.
Were writing tablets only used in Ancient Rome?
No, writing tablets were a common form of communication in many cultures around the world during ancient times. Clay tablets were used in Mesopotamia from 3000BC and were also discovered in Soviet Georgia. Wax tablets were also used in Ancient Greece, China, Japan, and even India. Writing tablets were an important way to communicate and store information before the invention of paper and pens.
What did ancient Romans write on tablets?
The Romans wrote on tablets for a variety of reasons. They wrote on tablets to record laws, store family or business records, or even to write letters. They usually used styluses to carve the words, numbers, and symbols into the wax or clay surfaces. Through these tablets, we were able to gain an insight into the daily lives of people in Ancient Rome.
Summary of Roman Tablets
Tablets were an integral part of life in Ancient Rome. They were used to record a number of daily activities such as laws, business, and religious observances. Common materials used were wax and clay, which were both used to write with a stylus. Wax tablets were also great tools for authors and scholars to keep track of their ideas and make additions and revisions as needed. Additionally, these tablets remain important sources of information about Roman culture; providing archaeologists and historians with invaluable insight.
Conclusion
Tablets have been a vital form of communication throughout history, with Ancient Rome being no exception. In Ancient Rome, tablets were made of wax or clay with a stylus used to record words, numbers and symbols. The Romans used tablets for a variety of reasons such as recording laws, memoranda, and letters as well as for scholars and authors to record their thoughts. These tablets remain an important source of information about Roman culture and continue to fascinate historians thousands of years later.
