Sealed capsule for Roman writing tablets with phallus
The original dates from the Roman Empire (1st to 4th c. AD)
The lid of this replica of a Roman seal capsule was created according to an original, the body was supplemented accordingly.
Sealing a wax tablet:
Using cord, you bundle the wax tablet together in form of a cross. Then, the cords are pulled through the holes in the seal cartridge and knotted inside the capsule. We have to assume that the Romans then sealed with seals or gem rings by printing them into the soft wax, then the capsule with the lid was closed. In some original capsules still the sealing wax survived even until today.
When one wanted to open the wax tablet, one had to break the wax seal (lat. "Cera turbata est”, which then allowed to read the message.
- Length approx. 37 mm
- Polished cast-bronze
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