Fig. 227.—Roman Bronze Foot-Rule (No. 578). L. 292 mm.
Fig. 228.—Bronze Proportional Compasses (No. 579). L. 7½ in.
Measures.—In Case H are a few examples of ancient measures and geometrical instruments. A Greek clay cup (No. 575), inscribed ἡμικοτύλιον, contains exactly half a pint. The Greek kotyle, therefore, according to this standard, measured exactly a pint. A copy of a well-known Roman standard gallon, the so-called Farnese Congius, is in Case 44 (No. 576). Nos. 577 and 578 are two Roman bronze foot-rules, measuring respectively 294 mm. (11·6 in.) and 292 mm. (11·5 in.). The normal Roman foot measured 296 mm., and was adopted under Greek influence, whereas the early Italic foot had only measured 278 mm. (slightly under 11 in.). Fig. 227 (No. 578) shows the subdivisions of these foot rules. One side is marked by dots into sixteenths (digiti); another into twelfths (unciae); another into fourths (palmi). The foot-rule illustrated has the remains of a catch (indicated in the fig.) for keeping it rigid, when opened. There are several pairs of ordinary compasses and dividers, and also two pairs of proportional (2:1) compasses (No. 579). One of these is figured here (fig. 228). Notice the method of tightening by means of a wedge, with the object of keeping the compasses fixed in any particular position.
Measures.—(575) Cat. of Vases, IV, F 595; (577) Cf. Daremberg and Saglio, s.v. Pes; Hermes, XXII., p. 17 ff. and p. 79 ff.; Ath. Mitt., IX. (1884), p. 198 ff.
Bronze Stamps.—The large bronze stamps shown in Case H are somewhat akin to seals in their intention. But while the engraved ring was usually employed for purely personal purposes, such as the sealing of a letter or document, and the device of the seal was more or less ornamental, the bronze tablets were used for commercial or domestic purposes and seldom bear anything but the name of the person using them.
These tablets are of various forms, but the majority are rectangular, and bear the owner's name, like the one in this Case from Arles (No. 580), with the name of Q. Julius Renatus; others have merely initials. Some are made in the form of a shoe or the sole of a foot, and this is a shape frequently employed by the potters of the Roman period in Italy for stamping their names on vases. Other forms to be here observed are a leaf (No. 581), a ship (No. 582), and a fish (No. 583). The letters in most cases are in relief, producing an impression in intaglio on a soft substance such as unbaked clay. They were probably used for the most part for stamping the plaster stoppers of wine jars, loaves of bread and such like objects.
Fig. 229.—Rolling Stamp, with the name of Alexander (No. 584).
An example of a rare form is the rolling stamp with the name of Alexander (No. 584; fig. 229).