138 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. VII. 



Nos. 242, 243 and other similar objects are labeled "altars" in 

 the Naples Museum. Overbeck, Pompeii, pp. 425, 426, explains 

 them as seats — a purpose for which they seem too small and weak. 

 The horizontal pieces which connect the legs have open-work deco- 

 ration, more elaborate at the ends than at the front and back. The 

 top is concave. 



242. (24161) Stool-shaped Object 



The open-work decoration at each end, immediately under the top, con- 

 sists of conventionalized vegetable scrolls, with a mask of Jupiter Ammon in 

 the middle. 



Naples 109506. 



243. (24166) Stool-shaped Object 



The open-work decoration at each end, immediately under the top, has in 

 the middle a pendent palmette. 



Naples (?). Mus. Borb. IV, xxvn, 9, 10; Overbeck, Pompeii, Fig. 226. 



244. (24169) Dry Measure 



The plain, cylindrical vessel has two lateral, fixed handles. Within is a 

 central upright rod, supporting a three-armed brace. 



Naples 74601. A similar, but smaller, measure from Herculaneum in the Naples Museum 

 (No. 74600) bears the inscription (C /. L. X, 8067, 4) : 



D- D- P- P 

 HERC 

 i. e., D(ecreto) d(ecurionum) p(ecunia) p(ublica) Herc(ulanenses) , showing that the measure was an 

 officially certified standard. 



BALANCE AND WEIGHTS 



The equal-armed balance is the earliest contrivance for weighing. 

 The example here shown is small and of the simplest construction, 

 being without a tongue to indicate the exact equivalence of the weight 

 in one scale with the article in the other. Some of the weights bear 

 witness that much larger balances were also in use. Smith, Dictionary 

 of Greek and Roman Antiquities, s. v. libra; Baumeister, Denkmaler , 

 s. v. Wage. 



~ Ae ,24136 241^0 v ^ TTT 



245. ( — *- ,) Balance and Weights 



2 2, 3 



The pans are bowl-shaped; the chains missing. 



Naples 116438. Pompeii. Not. d. Scavi, 1887, pp. 413, 414. The original series of weights 

 consists of seven pieces, five square and two round. The square weights bear each a Greek letter, 

 standing for the numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 10. Of the round weights one has a single dot inlaid in silver, 

 while the other has two such dots. As this balance was found associated with surgical instru- 

 ments, it was probably used for weighing drugs. 



(p 246-251. (24126, 24132, 24137, 24139, 24151, 24153) Six Weights 

 Each weight represents a reclining goat on a rectangular pedestal. 



Naples 74308-74313, Pompeii. Fiorelli, Scavi di Pompeii dal 186 1 al 1872, p. 90. Fiorelh 

 suggests that these weights were used in selling goat's milk (?). On the ends of the pedestals are 



