Hello, I am Hercules. No, not the all-powerful deity, but a Roman steelyard weight made in his likeness. My life started when a bit Bronze was heated to approximately 1000 degrees Celsius and poured into a mould resembling the handsome Hercules. The end result was merely my outside shell. As a hollow figurine, I would not be of much use as a weight and thus I was filled with molten lead. In an effort to exact my weight, nails were driven into me until I was precisely 3,785 grams. A loop and chain were added to the top of my head for ease of hanging me on the balance. Because I was made for a wealthy and prominent store owner, my eyes were inlayed with silver and precious stones. I was then sent to the shop to do my job.

As previously mentioned, I am a Roman steelyard weight. This may mean very little to most of you, but I was an important aspect of commerce back in my day. In the Roman period, merchants would use what is called a steelyard balance or a straight-beam balance to weigh goods for sale or trade. A steelyard balance is a type of scale consisting of a single beam or bar marked with measurements on one end. The markings delineate whether the load to be weighed is light, medium or heavy. The beam is hung from a single point near the end of the rod that is not marked. This is the point where I come in. I am hung from the short end, close to the fulcrum or where the beam is hung. Goods, money and other commodities are then hung from the far end of the scale and if the beam becomes horizontal, they match me in weight. For heavier objects, I may be used along with other similar weights on the short end when weighing heavier objects.

In my prime time I saw grains, produce, and other common commodities. Though I was used daily in a shop, I had many friends who were similar to me, though they were of different weights. My friends may were in the likeness of other deities, women, athletes, and even emperors and empresses. In the fast pace of the shops, I was thrown around and dinged up pretty good. If you look at me today, you will notice a few prominent scars upon my chest. Though, I do not remember exactly how or when I lost the pearly whites of my eyes, it was possibly a tragedy that resulted from the busy day-to-day affairs.

After years and years of contributing to the commerce of the Roman market, I was lost to the human world. Discarded in some dark corner, it was not long before I was covered by dirt and surrounded by darkness. It was relatively recently that I was unearthed by an archaeologist in Anatolia. After being cleaned and catalogued, I was placed on display in the Pera Museum. Now my daily life consists of sitting in glass case with a spotlight positioned on my laurel crown. Visitors of the museum come to view me and my fellow case-mates six days a week, during which I am looked up and down and admired for my fine beard, prominent brow, and strong bust. Though many would consider me to be in retirement, my new purpose in life is education.

Steelyard Weight in the Form of Heracles

Roman Period
3,785 g; h.: 15 cm

Bronze, filled with lead