Roman Metalwork: Iron stylus

Inv. No.: 87.210
Provenance: London (Roman) (purchased from Graham Geddes)
Date: 1st-4th century AD
Length: 137mm
Width: 1-6.5 mm
 
A straight, round rod of iron with a tapering extension finishing in a pointed tip at one end. A distinct shoulder marks the junction of the two pieces. The other end of the rod is carefully formed into a flattened wedge that finishes in a straight edge and is separated from the stem by a slight shoulder. The stylus (Manning Type II) has rusted with the result that the surface is rough and corroded, but it is now stabilised. Numerous similar styli have been found in London and were probably votive offerings thrown into a local stream, the Walbrook.

Function:
The sharp end was used for writing on wax-filled wooden tablets and the flat end enabled smoothing of the wax surface in order to correct an error.

Manufacture:
Forged by hand.

Bibliography:
Bonner, S. F., Education in Ancient Rome: From the elder Cato to the younger Pliny, London, Methuen, 1977, especially 127-129.

Kleiner, D. E. E. and S. B. Matheson (eds.), I Claudia: Women in Ancient Rome, New Haven, Yale University Art Gallery, 1996, 155.

Manning, W. H., Catalogue of the Romano-British Iron Tools, Fittings and Weapons in the British Museum, London, British Museum, 1985, 85-87 ("Styli") and Fig. 24 (Typology).

Manning, W. H., "The Iron Objects", in W. Frere, Verulamium Excavations, Oxford, Oxford University Committee for Archaeology (Monograph No. 1), 1984, 89 (stylus typology).

Merrifield, R., The Roman City of London, London, Ernest Benn, 1965, 93.

Strong, D. and D. Brown (eds.), Roman Crafts, New York, New York University Press, 1976, 127-141 ("Ironmaking" by H. Cleere) and143-153 ("Blacksmithing" by W. H. Manning).

Comparanda:
Ancient Lives: Greeks, Romans & Etruscans. Artefacts from the Collection of the National Museum of Antiquities at Leiden, the Netherlands, exhibition catalogue, Perth, Western Australian Museum, 1999, No. 122 (iron styli); note also No. 121 (wooden writing tablet for holding wax).

Bonner, S. F., Education in Ancient Rome: From the elder Cato to the younger Pliny, London, Methuen, 1977, Figs 14 (styli and pens) and 16 (waxed writing tablets).

Frere, W., Verulamium Excavations, Oxford, Oxford University Committee for Archaeology (Monograph No. 1), 1984, Fig. 39, 36-52 (various iron styli; note especially 46; Manning Type II).

Griffiths, N., "Roman Material from London in the Pitt Rivers collection at Salisbury Museum", Interpreting Roman London: Papers in memory of Hugh Chapman, eds. J. Bird, M. Hassall and H. Sheldon, Oxbow Monograph 58, Oxford, Oxbow Books, 1996, Fig. 22.3, No. 17 (similar iron stylus from Barge Yard, London).

Manning, W. H., Catalogue of the Romano-British Iron Tools, Fittings and Weapons in the British Museum, London, British Museum, 1985, Pl. 35, N15 (1st century AD; London Thames-side); and N16 (unknown provenance).

Merrifield, R., The Roman City of London, London, Ernest Benn, 1965, Pl. 105 (similar iron styli found in London).