Ostracon
Unknown Artist
A.D. 37–41
Medium
Pottery, ink
Dimensions
H. 11.5 × W. 10.2 × D. 3 cm (4 1/2 × 4 × 1 3/16 in.)
Classification
Ostracon, tax receipt
Period
Roman Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Herbert E. Winlock, 1924
Accession Number
24.6.26
Art Historical Context
Step into the everyday world of Roman Egypt with this modest yet revealing *Ostracon*, a small shard of pottery inscribed with ink. Dating to A.D. 37–41, during the reign of Emperor Caligula, it hails from the Roman Period (30 B.C.–A.D. 641), when Egypt was a vital province of the Roman Empire. Ostraca like this one were ubiquitous writing surfaces—affordable alternatives to pricey papyrus—used by scribes, students, and ordinary folk for notes, drafts, magical spells, or sketches. Crafted from humble pottery and inked by an unknown hand, this piece measures just 11.5 × 10.2 × 3 cm, fitting ea...