Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/411

IMfONZR STI'KL-YAKI) FoJJNJ) WITH HOMAN REMAINS. 343 Close to tliis stccl-yard <anotlicr was found, soniutliin"^ sliorter, but in otliei- respects quite similar. So far, these steel-yanls before us correspond with the llonian examples preserved in museums, and described in many archccological works ; as, for examj)le, in the ]Iuseo Bor- bonico and Ovcrbeck's Pompeii. They differ, however, from the usual examples of this kin<l, as also from those made known by Caylus (vol. iv., pi. 94 — 97), inasmuch as, being destined for weig-iiini>- liciht, heavy, and veri/ heavij objects, they are furnished with t/ircc hanging hooks, and three distinct scales. The others have only two hooks and two scales, marked on opposite sides of the rod. In the triple division of the i-od its shorter poiiion terminates on a pivot, on which the hook of the weighing-scale hangs. This can be set at will in the direction of either of the three hooks, and its respec- tive marked scale. The same arrangement is met with on a small bronze steel-yard which we have in the museum at Zurich, with the ^veight belonging to it. Unfortunately, in the case of the example before us, the scale arrangement, which on two sides of the rod is only hard to make out, is on the third almost destroyed. jMcan- while, it is sufficientl}^ clear that the cyphers, cross-strokes, and points, marked on the metal by the chisel, have been done in the most careless and inaccurate manner. The result of this defect in an instrument of otherwise so excel- lent a construction is that such goods only could be weighed ■where half a pound more or less did not matter. The steel- yard is usually held in the position it assumes in our illustra- tion. The hook nearest to the central point of the lever (I) is naturally destined for the lightest objects, and on its re- spective scale single pounds can be read off, though truly in our example not safely. The scale for the middle hook (H) begins Avith the number xxxx., whence it follows that only objects above 40 lbs. weight could be weighed by this hook. The scale runs thus : — • VI-l-l-IVI-l-M-VI-ll-IVl-l I IV l-l-M XXXX. The perpendicular lines betoken pounds ; the points half pounds. The scale at the third hook (G), for weighing the heaviest objects, begins in like manner with 40 lbs. (xxxx). The fives VOL. XXIX. : c