تويت
Cuneiform Tablets and Other Ancient Writing
Egyptian, FaienceSistrumHandle, Late Period, c. 712 - 30 B.C.
Roman Auxiliary Discharge and Citizenship Diploma Fragment, c. 2nd Century A.D.
Discharged auxiliaries received a bronze diploma, proof of the Roman citizenship they earned through 25 or more years of military service. One side listed information about the soldier and his company, while the other listed witnesses. They were often broken up and pieces given to decedents as evidence of their citizenship. Most were produced in Rome under the emperors Trajan through Septimius Severus. Diplomas are most often found in the Balkans, indicating this was a major recruiting area for non-citizens and these veterans tended to return home after serving. Many of these diplomas and fragments were likely lost when veterans' settlements were destroyed during the barbaric invasions in the 3rd Century. Diplomas lost much of their significance when Caracallaenacted the Constitutio Antoniniana of 212 AD, granting Roman citizenship to all residents of the Empire (except slaves).
| Eastern India, Buddhist Terracotta Votive Sealing, c. 8th Century | |
At holy sites and temples Buddhist pilgrims would purchase small votive offerings, to present to the shrine to be interred inside a stupa, or to take home as a memento. Votive offerings varied from place to place and over time. They were often made of terracotta and included small plaques, stupas, and sealings. The various sealings texts include meaningless pseudo-writing, repeated mantras, passages from the Ramayana, the Buddhist creed, prayers, etc. Because few early Buddhist manuscripts have survived in India, the writings found on these humble sealings provide a rareglimpse of the various scripts used in India in ancient and early medieval times.
Eastern India, Buddhist Terracotta Votive Sealing, c. 8th Century
At holy sites and temples Buddhist pilgrims would purchase small votive offerings, to present to the shrine to be interred inside a stupa, or to take home as a memento. Votive offerings varied from place to place and over time. They were often made of terracottaand included small plaques, stupas, and sealings. The various sealings texts include meaningless pseudo-writing, repeated mantras, passages from the Ramayana, the Buddhist creed, prayers, etc. Because few early Buddhist manuscripts have survived in India, the writings found on these humble sealings provide a rare glimpse of the various scripts used in India in ancient and early medieval times.
Eastern India, Buddhist Terracotta Votive Sealing, c. 8th Century
At holy sites and temples Buddhist pilgrims would purchase small votive offerings, to present to the shrine to be interred inside a stupa, or to take home as a memento. Votive offerings varied from place to place and over time. They were often made of terracotta and included small plaques, stupas, and sealings. The various sealings texts include meaningless pseudo-writing, repeated mantras, passages from the Ramayana, the Buddhist creed, prayers, etc. Because few early Buddhist manuscripts have survived in India, the writings found on these humble sealings provide a rare glimpse of the various scripts used in India in ancient and early medieval times.
| Eastern India, Buddhist Terracotta Votive Sealing, c. 8th Century | |
At holy sites and temples Buddhist pilgrims would purchase small votive offerings, to present to the shrine to be interred inside a stupa, or to take home as a memento. Votive offerings varied from place to place and over time. They were often made of terracotta and included small plaques, stupas, and sealings. The various sealings texts include meaningless pseudo-writing, repeated mantras, passages from the Ramayana, the Buddhist creed, prayers, etc. Because few early Buddhist manuscripts have survived in India, the writings found on these humble sealings provide a rareglimpse of the various scripts used in India in ancient and early medieval times.
