Ostracon: More Than Just Notes in the Past
From the perspective of archaeologists and historians, ostracons are incredibly valuable artifacts left behind by ancient civilizations. Found in abundance at sites in Egypt and Greece, they illuminate the mysteries of the distant past and provide insights into the culture, art, and even the political practices of times long gone. What is an ostracon? What was its purpose? I provide answers to these and other questions below.
The practical ability to repurpose unnecessary items seems to be a characteristic of our times. We can all find a use for worn clothes, empty bottles, or even wooden pallets. One-sided printed papers can be cut into smaller pieces and used for making short notes. It is worth knowing that a similar form of upcycling was known and practiced in ancient times.
What is an ostracon?
An ostracon is nothing more than a stone fragment or a piece of ceramic vessel shell. What may have initially appeared as trash served a highly practical purpose in the daily lives of ancient civilizations, especially in Egypt and Greece (although not exclusively, as the Romans also used ostracons). What were these uses? Let me explain.
