Product description
ChatGPT said:
The cera (Latin for tabula cerata – wax tablet) was a small writing board crafted from a hard material such as boxwood, beechwood, or even bone. At the centre of the board was a hollowed-out surface filled with a layer of dark wax.
Writing was carried out on this wax layer by means of a stylus – a pointed tool constructed from metal, wood, or bone (Greek: st?los, Latin: stylus). With this instrument, characters were scratched into the wax. Where necessary, the marks could easily be wiped away or smoothed out, rendering the tablet reusable. These wax tablets were employed for daily notes, reminders of tasks, debts, obligations, and as draft versions of texts that would later be copied onto papyrus or parchment.
Sealed wax tablets were also utilised for official purposes, such as drawing up wills, conveying secret orders, statements, receipts, and even reports. The oldest known archaeological example of a wax tablet dates back to the 7th century BC, found in Etruria (Italy). In Europe, the use of wax tablets remained common until the mid-19th century.
Writing
The pointed end of the stylus is employed to carve letters into the wax with light, downward strokes.
Erasing
The flat end of the stylus is used to smooth out the wax again. The stylus should be held flat, with the index finger placed on the flattened part, and moved across the wax in a pulling motion (not pushing). This permits the tablet to be reused again and again.
The two tablets are each 12 cm wide and crafted from wood, connected to each other with leather cords.
The stylus is included.
