Medium: Wood, wax
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:4th century C.E.
Dimensions: 6 3/4 x 5 3/16 x 1/4 in. (17.2 x 13.2 x 0.7 cm)
Collections:
Accession Number: 37.473E
Image: 37.473E_back_PS11.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Writing tablets, or pugillaris, belonging a schoolboy named Theophilos, son of Martyrios. First of five wooden writing tablets bound together. The writing tablet grouping is arranged in the following order: 37.473E, 37.1909E, 37.474E, 37.1910E, and 37.1908E. The unwaxed surface of this tablet served as the cover. The opposite waxed surface is the master's copy of gnomic verses in Greek consisting of six lines. "When anyone doing evil things speaks good things and does not escape the notice of him who is present Twofold beams the evil to him. Of when doing ill, a man beames vicious words nor hides the secret from the stander by twofold To him become the wickedness" Probably a fragment of Menandes. Condition: Good. The blackened wax in the one recess retains extensive inscriptions. There are some linear areas lifting parallel to the wood grain. The unrecessed wood surface shows extreme wear and scratches.