I mattoni di Velia: riflessioni e nuove prospettive di studio

The paper presents some remarks for a project in progress, dedicated to the Velian bricks, which aims to define the characters of production, considering the different aspects of the problem, archaeological and epigraphic, about the bricks stamped produced at Velia in the Hellenistic age, peculiar by form and by the system of marking. The aim of the present work is to examine morphological and typological aspects of Velian bricks and the development of their production, controlled by the State and characterized by a high standardization. This production assumes importance in relation to the role of the local administration. The analysis also focuses on their use and their life cycle. Then are examined epigraphic aspects relating to two stamps on these bricks. One, called ‘constant’, consists of letters delta-heta, abbreviation of demosion, ‘public’; the other, called ‘variable’, is instead composed of the abbreviation of the personal names, which are an indication of the magistrate or the owner or the operator of the workshop. It is a marking system that, by the symbol delta-heta, alluding to the State, by refers to its main political institution, the demos.