Inscriptions for inscribers: texts on Roman writing equipment

Willi, Anna

Abstract

Inspired by the recent find of an inscribed stylus at London’s Bloomberg site, this article provides a survey of Roman styli, inkwells and wax-spatula handles with inscriptions. After a discussion of the geographical and chronological distribution of the three main text categories (owners’ marks, makers’ marks and longer texts/gifts), those objects that can be considered gifts and that were inscribed with personal or witty sentences are discussed in more detail. They are part of the Roman tradition of gifting inscribed instrumentum but very rare compared to other object types such as fibulae or spoons. Their distribution shows a cluster in Germania superior, suggesting that they represent a fashionable trend in this area from the second/third century A.D. onwards. A closer examination of design, material, texts and find contexts reveals that inscribed styli in particular were custom made skilfully and used as gifts amongst a literate civilian «elite».

Citation

Willi, A. (2022). Inscriptions for inscribers: texts on Roman writing equipment. Journal of Epigraphic Studies, 5, 63–104

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 1, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 15, 2022
• Deposit Date: May 23, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 15, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Epigraphic Studies
• Print ISSN: 2611-979X
• Electronic ISSN: 2612-3517
• Publisher: Fabrizio Serra editore
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Pages: 63–104
• Keywords: Roman Archaeology, Roman Epigraphy, Roman Small finds, Roman writing equipment
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7167991