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The use of seals was very common not only in Greece but throughout the Orient, even in remote antiquity.In Zakro several hundreds of clay seal impressions which belong to the Mycenaean period were found.' "These may have been attached to bales of goods and were preserved as a record of commercial transactions."2There is no evidence for the use of seals in the Homeric age; but the lots which bore some distinguishing mark that enabled each person to identify his own are in effect the same.3In Athens it was the common practice to seal up any kind of receptacle or package which the owner or custodian desired to protect from unauthorized interference.Careful householders sealed their larders against pilfering slaves, and even against the women of their families.4Persons who intended to go on a journey frequently protected their property by affixing seals.5In the case of an antidosis, the parties to the exchange sealed up the property involved, including houses and other buildings.6Letters were regularly sealed.7So also wills, contracts, and other documents were generally sealed and deposited with trustworthy persons to prevent fraud; they were tied up with thread and sealed in such a way that the thread could not be removed without breaking the seal. 1 During the classical period also an adhesive clay called yq o.cIavJ'Tpis (Herod.ii.38) or A37ros (also pV7rop, Photius s. v.) was very generally employed for seal impressions.The brittleness of clay as compared with wax in all probability led to the use of protective caps K6,yXaL, Aristoph.Wasps 585.2Bosanquet Journal of Hellenic Studies XXI, p. 339: Bosanquet's conjecture regarding the purpose of these seal impressions is in a measure confirmed by the practice of shipping merchandise in sealed packages mentioned by Pliny N. H. xxxv.14. 3Iliad vii.175; cf.iii.316: It is not likely that names were written on the lots.Cf.Paley's note.Many have supposed the 7rlpat 7rTVKT6s of Proitus was sealed; Iliad vi.169 and Leaf's note.
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