The Tamesis
Archaeological operations ahead of a construction project in Gela, Sicily, have uncovered an unusual carved bone pen – a sharp tool used to carve words into clay before firing – which may have served a symbolic purpose, according to excavation leader Gianluca Calla. Spanish magazine reported the news la brula cape verde.
The stylus was discovered during a survey of the new Palace of Culture construction site; such surveys are not uncommon in areas known to have potential archaeological interest, and Gela was once a powerful ancient Greek city known for its extensive ruins.
The stylus, which is about five inches long and dates back to the 5th century BC, was found among the remains of a manual production center during the Hellenistic period. Its design is distinctive, with a four-sided handle topped by the face of the Greek god Dionysus and an elaborately drawn upright phallus in the middle.
The shape of the handle imitates the shape of the ancient Greek herme – a square stone pillar with a bust, sometimes decorated at appropriate heights with carvings of male genitalia. These pillars were used by the Greeks as boundary markers or road signs, symbolizing fertility and good luck.
Not only does its imagery make the stylus unique, but it also references Hermes and its protective powers, and it may have been both a tool and a talisman.
