Tabula ansata

sanctuary of Isis and Magna Mater in Mainz

Charles, Count of Maine attributed to Francesco Laurana, in Le Mans Cathedral

A tabula ansata or tabella ansata (Latin for "tablet with handles", plural tabulae ansatae or tabellae ansatae) is a tablet with

Overview

Tabulae ansatae identifying soldiers' units have been found on the tegimenta (leather covers) of

), shows that they were also used for the same purpose on the shields.[4]

Modern era

Tabulae ansatae have been used by modern artists from as early as the 15th century, as shown on the tomb of

The Statue of Liberty by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi is holding one such tablet on which "July IV MDCCLXXVI" is inscribed.

Gallery

• 
  Tabulae ansatae on soldiers' shields – metope from the Tropaeum Traiani, Archaeological Museum of Istanbul
• 
  A tabula ansata on the attic of the arch of Dativius Victor (de) in Mainz
• 
  Tabulae ansatae carried on sticks – Arch of Titus^[5]
• 
  A tabula ansata carried on a stick –

  Triumphs of Caesar by Andrea Mantegna^[5]
• 
  Tabula ansata on a mosaic in Ostia Antica
• 
  Tabula ansata on

  bookplate
• 
  The Statue of Liberty (formally Liberty Enlightening the World) holds a tabula ansata inscribed with "July 4 1776" in Roman numerals
• 
  Detail of the Statue of Liberty's tabula

Footnotes

External links

• Ancient tabula ansata made of metal from Italica (Spain).
• Tabula ansata on the Shaykh Zwaydah (Cheikh Zouède) mosaic (source page), 4th century AD, Ismailia museum, Egypt, discovered in 1913 by Jean Clédat^[1]