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Category Archives: desks
The Sarcophagus of the Muses from Isola Sacra: Manuscripts and Readers
I’ve written before about the reopening of the museum at Ostia Antica in 2024. One of my favorite displays there involves material from what is now known as Tomb E 200 from Isola Sacra–an interesting sarcophagus with equally interesting contents. … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeological context, desks, Ostia
Tagged archaeology, art-history, history, Ostia, papyrus, Roman history, Rome
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The So-called Scriptorium at Bu Njem
It is common for historians of ancient Rome to state that writers did not use desks (As Theodor Birt put it, “In antiquity, people did not write on desks”). I have noted before on the blog that I am not … Continue reading
Posted in desks, Ostraca, Scriptoria
Tagged Bu Njem, desks, manuscripts, qumran, Roman Libya, Scriptoria, Scriptorium
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A Mosaic from Thabraca with a Writer at a Desk
In earlier posts, I discussed two pieces of evidence for writing at desks in the late antique period, a relief from Ostia and a relief found at Portus. Another piece of evidence that Metzger mentioned in his well known chapter … Continue reading
A Relief from Portus showing a Writer at a Desk
Following up on my post about a relief showing writers at desks at Ostia, I should also mention a second artifact found in the same region. It is a relief uncovered in the nineteenth century at Portus (just north of … Continue reading
Posted in Codices, desks, Ostia, Tablets
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A Relief from Ostia Showing Writers at Desks
The museum at the archaeological park at Ostia Antica has reopened after many years of closure for renovations. The results are quite impressive, and I hope to have a chance to post some reflections about the museum itself soon, but … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeological context, Codices, desks, Ostia, Tablets
Tagged archaeology, Book History, books, copyists, desks, history, Ostia, Ostia Antica, Rome, scribes, tables, technology
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Variant Readings 