Recreation or Decoration: What Were the Glass Counters From Pompeii Used For?

Abstract

This paper considers the small glass objects often called counters, which are common finds at Pompeii, and normally thought to have been used in playing games. An assemblage of over 500 stratigraphically dated examples from Insula VI.1 are examined, and the colour and size of this group are compared to a dataset of first-century AD glass counters found in graves where they can be shown with certainty to be part of gaming sets. The comparisons show that the bulk of the Pompeii counters are very unlikely to have been used in gaming, a conclusion that is supported by the types of counters that would have been necessary to play games such as ludus latrunculorum and ludus duodecim scriptorum. Other functions are considered and it is suggested that many of the Pompeiian counters might have been used for interior decoration. The rise of a specialist production of counters that could have been used in gaming is demonstrated, and it is suggested this might have implications for the development of craft specialization and demonstrate the rise of leisure time in the first century AD.Questo articolo esamina i piccoli oggetti di vetro spesso chiamati 'pedine', ritrovamenti comuni a Pompei e che generalmente si pensa che fossero usati in relazione all'attività ludica. Viene esaminato un insieme di più di 500 esemplari dalla Insula VI.1, datati su base stratigrafica, e il colore e la dimensione di questo gruppo vengono paragonati a quelli di un insieme di 'pedine' vitree risalenti al I sec. d.C., rinvenuti in tombe e di cui è certo l'utilizzo come parti di set da gioco. Il paragone mostra come la maggior parte delle 'pedine' da Pompei difficilmente sia stata utilizzata in relazione ad attività ludiche. Questa conclusione è supportata da un'analisi che tiene conto dei tipi di pedine che sarebbero stati necessari per giochi come il ludus latrunculorum e il ludus duodecim scriptorum. Si prendono quindi in considerazione altre possibili funzioni e si suggerisce come molte delle 'pedine' da Pompei fossero utilizzate per decorazioni d'interni. Nell'articolo viene inoltre evidenziato lo sviluppo di una produzione specialistica di 'pedine' utilizzabili nelle attività ludiche e si suggerisce come ciò abbia potuto avere implicazioni nello sviluppo della specializzazione delle tecniche artigianali e dimostra l'aumento della disponibilità di 'tempo libero' nel I sec. d.C.

Archaeometric studies on a Pompeian blue glass fragment from Regio I, Insula 14 for the characterization of glassmaking technology

“…However, according to some views, the A.D. 62 earthquake (de ned as terminus post quem) was not a single event but other seismic activity, occurred over a certain number of years (Neronian and early Flavian periods) [27], generated stratigraphic sequence due to the subsequent demolition and rebuilding thus, suggesting that not all the glass nds have been precisely contemporaneous. All excavated specimens should have been preserved from subsequent potential deterioration caused by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. (terminus ante quem) [21]. Dr. Piccioli, C., an o cial of the former Archaeological Superintendence of Naples and Caserta (SANC) selected the distinctive sample that was considered, according to archaeological caution, well preserved and of great signi cance, because its intense color that appeared identical to that of other intact glass manufactures.…”

“…These manufacturers were also described by Pliny the Helder as products of a melting recycling procedure leading to transparent, opaque, or widely colored objects, thus representing an example of glass production activities during the Roman epoch. Several studies on these nds were mainly nalized for the identi cation of coloring or opacifying compounds [18][19][20][21]. Moreover, Pompeii's excavations revealed the presence of glass production workshops probably dated before the Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D. [12,22].…”

Analize stekla s poznoantične višinske postojanke Korinjski hrib nad Velikim Korinjem

“…Due to the generally modest decoration of the late antique churches in the southeastern Alps (Ciglenečki 2003), it is difficult to imagine what the gem from Korinjski hrib could have decorated, perhaps a book cover or a small artefact. Another possibility is that the object represents a gaming token, though these are usually somewhat larger (Cool 2016).…”