Mathematical Tables

Mathematical Tables

The mathematical tables pictured here are most likely from a Christian community and school in Fayyum, Egypt during the 6th or 7th century. The numbers are written in Greek, demonstrating that a student was practicing his or her division tables. The material is a board of wood that has been covered by a coat of gesso. The numbers are written in five columns horizontally across the board, and there are holes made in the top of the board which signal that this would have been put together with other pieces of wood as an early type of notebook.

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries

500-699 CE

Asher Riley

Kislak Center, Penn Libraries

https://openn.library.upenn.edu/Data/0001/html/ljs228.html

1 board fragment : 95 x 390 mm

Greek

wooden board

Oversize LJS 228