Tessera
Tessera (Latin: tessera) — a clay or wax tablet used for recording information in Ancient Rome. Wax tablets could be reused multiple times.
Tesseras were very popular among Roman soldiers: there are numerous reliefs depicting them either with individual tesseras or with entire sets that they carried in special pouches. There was also a military rank named after these tablets — the tesserarius.
Part of the stele of Annaeus Daverzus with a tessera, a soldier from the 4th Cohort of Dalmatians (cohors IIII Delmatarum). Early 1st century AD.
Tombstone of Gaius Valerius Valens, centurion of the 8th Augustan Legion, carrying a set of tesseras. 1st century AD. Archaeological Museum, Corinth, Greece.
Fragment of the tombstone of the standard-bearer (signifer) Oclatius from the cavalry Ala Afrorum with a set of tesseras. Neuss, Germany. 1st century AD.
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Gallery
Tombstone of the standard-bearer (signifer) Oclatius from the cavalry Ala Afrorum. Neuss, Germany. 1st century AD.
Tombstone of the standard-bearer (signifer) of the 9th Spanish Legion Lucius Duccius. Yorkshire Museum, York, United Kingdom. Late 1st - early 2nd century AD.Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions. Reenactment
