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Bronze; a) 33 x 16 cm; b) 28 x 58 cm
Naples, MAN; inv. 5749 and 74165
Pompeii
First century AD
The first model is a lever scale only furnished with the hooks for suspending the merchandise to be weighted; the hooks are linked to the arm by means of little chains. On two sides of the arm are incised the symbols of value in weight from I to VII and from VI to XXX. From the arm hangs a great oval weight with a button at one end. The lever scale was hung from a hook placed at the end of the arm corresponding to those for hanging weights. In the second example, a casseruola functions as the plate: along the handle, on which appear the values of weight, is the hook with the chain for hanging, while from the end a short chain with large links (the link that attaches it is not ancient) holds a head of Mercury with a helmet: either the modern restoration of the chain or the absence of a weight in the eighteenth century reproduction inspired the arbitrary addition of this weight. |
