The Tingle Factor Box

It's So Pretty - Samian Ware

Imagine, you are living in Germany. Near where you live, you know there was once a Roman settlement and one of your favourite things to do is wander out into the fields to see if you can find any evidence they left behind. Occasionally you discover a coin or a piece of pottery, but your favourite things to discover are the pieces of Samian Ware. With their vivid colour and beautiful decoration, you always feel you have discovered something treasured when you turn one up in the earth.

They're So Tiny! Roman Coins

Imagine, you are walking through a field in England. You aren't particularly looking for anything, just taking a stroll, when you see a coin. You know how the saying goes - see a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck! When you pick the coin up though, you know it is something a bit more special - you've seen them in the local museum. This is a Roman coin and it was just lying around in a field. Amazing!

It's So Fine! Roman Glass

Imagine, you are a rich Roman, living in Ancient Rome. You are proud of your civilisation, after all, the empire rules much of the known world and is a leader in all areas of life. You have access to so many luxuries brought from all over the empire to Rome, jewels, fine linens, exotic fruits, beautiful oils and perfumes. You also have wonderful bowls and vessels to keep your fruits, oils and perfumes in, the finest glass made by the Roman artisans. No other glass can compare to the quality and beauty of Roman glass.

They Didn't Come Off A Mummy, Did They? Egyptian Faience Beads

Imagine, you are an ancient Egyptian. Recently, one of your parents has died, and you are working hard to make sure that they are given all of the proper amulets, funerary goods and rituals to ensure they are protected on the way to the after life. Of course, this is all very expensive, and you can't afford to use gold and gemstones like the upper classes and Royal family do. You aren't so poor that you can't afford to provide faience beads, amulets and ushabtis though.

Just As Long As It Isn't Human! - Bone Roman Gaming Token

Imagine, you are a man living in ancient Rome. Life is very busy, with training as a soldier, working, political and religious duties. Despite all of these demands on your time, you still find time for leisure, attending the amphitheatre, entertaining, playing games. You particularly cherish quiet moments when you can indulge in playing board games and, although it may not be the common thing to do, you find your wife is a very competent player, if there are no men to verse that is!

So it's an ancient safety-pin? Roman Fibula

Imagine, you are an ancient Roman. It's early morning and you're getting ready for the day. If you're a man you need to get dressed in your toga because you have an important official event to attend today. If you are a woman, you're arranging your palla over your stola. Whether you are a man or a woman though, your clothing is not sewn into a pre-made shape, it needs to be specially draped and held in place. If it isn't securely fastened, you might be embarrassed because it could slip, but luckily you have an ancient safety pin to stop your clothing falling off - a fibula!

But . . . They're So Small! Roman Tesserae

Imagine, you live in Ancient Rome. You are working on creating a beautiful floor for a Roman home. The floor will have a picture laid into it with little tiles, making up a mosaic image. Each tile must be laid one at a time. Luckily, you are using reasonably large tesserae (tiles), after all, you have seen some mosaics which have up to 50 tesserae in a singe square centimetre!

So, It's Like A Candle? - Roman Oil Lamp

When I took these two Roman Oil Lamps to show the children, they were intrigued and surprised to think that these small lamps were used to light the ancient world. Today, they simply flick a switch and have light. Even candles for children are somewhat of a novelty for birthdays and blackouts, and many have never seen even a more modern oil lamp. Yet oil lamps were the main source of lighting for thousands of years.

"I'm a caveman!" - Neolithic Arrowheads

Five arrowheads from the neolithic era, found in the Sahara Desert

When these objects were first introduced to the kids at my workplace, a local primary school, one of the young boys (aged 5) used them as a prop for imaginative play. He went and found a stick and some vine, tied a stone to the tip and declared "I'm a caveman!". He built himself a 'cave' using a blanket and table and stayed there for most of the afternoon, having already hunted down his meal with his makeshift arrow.