XV.—TOOLS, BUILDING, AND SCULPTURE.
(Wall-Cases 45-48.)
Tools.—These are exhibited in Cases 45-46. The objects for the most part speak for themselves, but attention may be called to one or two of the most interesting. Such is the Roman bronze set-square (No. 482; fig. 201), furnished with a base to enable it to stand. Its outer edges would be used by masons or carpenters to determine angles of 90° and 45° respectively. The inner angle of 90° would be useful for testing the true position of objects set at right angles to one another, such as the sides of a box, etc. The simplest type of set-square, that formed by two edges at right angles to one another, is seen in No. 483. Notice the set of bronze plummets (No. 484), which were suspended from strings. The one illustrated (fig. 201) has Bassi, "belonging to Bassus," inscribed on it in punctured letters. Two other inscribed tools are of interest. The one is the sickle-like iron blade from, perhaps, a gardener's knife, with the inscription, "Durra made me" (No. 485), the other a finely made Greek bronze chisel, bearing the name of Apollodoros (No. 486).
Fig. 201.—Roman Set-square and Plummet (Nos. 482, 484). 1:4.
Building materials and Sculptures.—Cases 45-48 contain objects illustrating the materials and methods of Greek and Roman builders and sculptors. There are several Greek tiles dated by the impression of a magistrate's name, e.g., "Under Aeschyliskos," "Under Apollodoros," the latter (No. 487) bearing traces of the feet of a dog which has run across the tile before it was dry.
Fig. 202.—Roman Stamped Tile (No. 488). Ca. 1:3.