This weekend I visited British Museum to see the Pompeii exhibition. It is wonderful. One of the most beautiful frescoes
on display is that of a baker Terentius Neo and his wife. They must have had quite a successful bakery. To show their status and aspirations they are depicted with writing tablets, stylus and papyrus. The guide to the exhibition explains “Successful businessmen and women chose to be pictured with scrolls and tablets because they suggested learning, influence and power.” Being literate was a sign of status, influence and power. So, what’s new since the 79 AD?