Antiquities Exhibits

 The Greeks probably started using a folding pair of wax tablets, along with the leather scroll in the mid-8th century BCE. Metal spatulas were used to spread wax on the tablets. These had an iron blade which could be heated (and is usually missing) and a bronze handle which often depicts the head of Minerva, the goddess of literacy and learning.  Writing on the wax surface was performed with a stylus which was usually made of metal but sometimes of wood or animal bone, with one end pointed and the other end flattened so it could be used like an eraser to smooth the wax for reuse. The modern expression of "a clean slate" equates to the Latin expression "tabula rasa". To write on sheets of papyrus, slips of wood, or pottery sherds, the Greeks and Romans used a reed carved into a sharp nib and ink produced from soot, plant juices, or cuttlefish ink.  Hella Eckardt of the University of Reading observes, "Scrolls and wooden leaf tablets were written in ink using a ...

Remains of Roman Verulamium at the Verulamium Roman Museum in St. Albans, UK. The Roman settlement at Verulamium was established on the site of a Catuvellauni tribal center and granted munipium status around 50 CE. Although destroyed by Boudica and her Iceni tribesmen in 61 CE, the town was later rebuilt and expanded through the 3rd century CE. Verulamium contained a forum, basilica and a theatre with a stage rather than the typical am phitheater. Although most of the Roman city was quarried for stone, the foundations of many of the monumental structures as well as decorative mosaic pavements, most a combination of floral and geometric shapes, are still visible. The museum has preserved a number of mosaics and also displays red Samian ware-type ceramics, jewelry, tools and coins. Roman reenactors present demonstrations periodically at the museum as well. Mosaic depicting local deity at Verulamium Roman reenactor demonstrates no mercy at the Verulamium Roman Museum Ro...