3 ms·
Question now is - what did they use to write upon this iron stylus?
by Zenst 7y ago
Question now is - what did they use to write upon this iron stylus?
- bookofjoe 7y agoI was wondering precisely the same thing. Looking closely at the inscription, it appears to have been made by using a pointed instrument with green color at its tip, applied one dot at a time.
- yannis 7y agoThey did not use ink. It is actually a stylus used to write on wax tablets (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_tablet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_tablet). Later in the article it says ... Other finds included more than 400 waxed writing tablets, which offer insights into the first decades of Roman rule in Britain.
- a_t48 7y agoOP is referring to the styluses themselves - they have green writing, and are not made of wax.
- smsm42 7y agoNot sure if the green is original or added now to make the writings visible. To survive 2000 years that green, whatever it is, must be super-durable. But in general, if you hit an iron rod with another pointy iron rod, you'll probably leave a mark. Do it many times, and you have an inscription. Probably took a lot of work though, so the guy who owned it probably was quite busy for some time... Maybe a long road from Rome to London :)
- tsomctl 7y ago> The inscription was exceptionally difficult to read, partly due to corrosion, and is only legible now following work by conservators. The article says it is made out of iron, but wrought iron is much more likely. The Romans would have been able to make a punch out of hardened wrought iron to mark this stylus.
- B1FF_PSUVM 7y ago> Not sure if the green is original or added now to make the writings visible. I'd bet on the "added now", possibly by 'shopping the image ...