DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14140#0050
42
COUNTERS (TESSERiE) IN IVORY, BONE, POR-
CELAIN, AND STONE, TABLE CASE D.
These are arranged in classes as follows :—■
(1) Theatrical.
(2) Agonistic.
(3) Tesserce connected with the sortes convivales and with
sparsiones in the theatres.
(4) Miscellaneous.
Nos. 1-17 are probably all tesserce issued for use in the
theatre. On the obverse, they have usually the figure or
head of a deity or human personage; on the reverse,
numerals both in Greek and Latin characters, and gener-
ally a name in Greek, which seems to be that of the figure
or head represented on the obverse. On the obverse of No. 1
seems to be a rude representation of the theatre itself. It-
is thought that the figure or head on the obverse of these
tesserce and the name inscribed on the reverse indicate the
division {cuneus) of the theatre where a particular statue or
bust stood, and whence the cuneus took its name. On this
supposition, the numerals on the reverse Avould indicate
the row of seats in the same cuneus where the holder of the
tessera was entitled to take his place. Thus the bust of
the Muse Erato on No. 6 would indicate the cuneus where
her statue or bust stood.
Nos. 18-20 are probably examples of Agonistic tesserce,
so called because they are thought to have been issued on
the occasion of public festivals or games. No. 18 probably
refers to some festival held in the grove (aA-uos) of a
temple; No. 19 to some local Olympic festival. The
amplwra and sash on No. 20 are probably the prizes
accorded to some Agonistic victor.
Nos. 21-39 are believed to be tesserce distributed as
sortes convivales or as sparsiones. We learn from Lampridius
(Elagabal. 22) that the sortes convivales were a sort of lottery
drawn by the guests at a banquet, and through which they
were entitled to presents varying in amount. The spar-
siones were a kind of largess distributed to be scrambled
for at public games in the form of tesserce, on each of which
was written the prize to which the holder of it would be
entitled. See Dio, lxi. 18, 1; Martial, viii. 78, 7. It
should be noted that from No. 28 to No. 39 the Greek
numeral is omitted.
COUNTERS (TESSERiE) IN IVORY, BONE, POR-
CELAIN, AND STONE, TABLE CASE D.
These are arranged in classes as follows :—■
(1) Theatrical.
(2) Agonistic.
(3) Tesserce connected with the sortes convivales and with
sparsiones in the theatres.
(4) Miscellaneous.
Nos. 1-17 are probably all tesserce issued for use in the
theatre. On the obverse, they have usually the figure or
head of a deity or human personage; on the reverse,
numerals both in Greek and Latin characters, and gener-
ally a name in Greek, which seems to be that of the figure
or head represented on the obverse. On the obverse of No. 1
seems to be a rude representation of the theatre itself. It-
is thought that the figure or head on the obverse of these
tesserce and the name inscribed on the reverse indicate the
division {cuneus) of the theatre where a particular statue or
bust stood, and whence the cuneus took its name. On this
supposition, the numerals on the reverse Avould indicate
the row of seats in the same cuneus where the holder of the
tessera was entitled to take his place. Thus the bust of
the Muse Erato on No. 6 would indicate the cuneus where
her statue or bust stood.
Nos. 18-20 are probably examples of Agonistic tesserce,
so called because they are thought to have been issued on
the occasion of public festivals or games. No. 18 probably
refers to some festival held in the grove (aA-uos) of a
temple; No. 19 to some local Olympic festival. The
amplwra and sash on No. 20 are probably the prizes
accorded to some Agonistic victor.
Nos. 21-39 are believed to be tesserce distributed as
sortes convivales or as sparsiones. We learn from Lampridius
(Elagabal. 22) that the sortes convivales were a sort of lottery
drawn by the guests at a banquet, and through which they
were entitled to presents varying in amount. The spar-
siones were a kind of largess distributed to be scrambled
for at public games in the form of tesserce, on each of which
was written the prize to which the holder of it would be
entitled. See Dio, lxi. 18, 1; Martial, viii. 78, 7. It
should be noted that from No. 28 to No. 39 the Greek
numeral is omitted.