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> Has anyone considered that it might've just been a novelty? A fancy paperweight? This just got me thinking, it would likely take us hours to explain an ancie
by lou1306 1y ago
> Has anyone considered that it might've just been a novelty? A fancy paperweight?
This just got me thinking, it would likely take us hours to explain an ancient Roman what a "paperweight" is. The fact that paper a) exists, b) is our main writing support, and c) can be made so lightweight that a slight breeze can blow a stack of it away would be mind-blowing
- Ekaros 1y agoPaperweights would be even greater use for Romans. As often they were wound up on scrolls which means that some item stopping them from wounding up again when unwound would be rather useful.
- adrian_b 1y agoLong scrolls were normally read by unwrapping them from a stick, while wrapping them again on another stick, i.e. like magnetic tapes are read now. So the two sticks kept the scroll unwound around the reading position.
- griffzhowl 1y agoThey had papyrus so I don't think paper would have been that mind-blowing
- mr_toad 1y agoThey also used vellum/parchment.