pínax

A pínax, plural pínakes, was a type of wooden board or tablet used in ancient Greece. These boards were typically made of wood and were often coated with wax. The wax served as a surface for writing, with a stylus used to inscribe letters or draw images. Pínakes were employed for a variety of purposes, including recording accounts, keeping notes, and practicing writing. They were particularly common in educational settings, where students would use them to learn the alphabet and practice their penmanship.

Beyond their practical uses, pínakes also held a significant role in religious and civic life. In some contexts, they were used as votive offerings, inscribed with prayers or dedications and presented to deities. In the city of Athens, a significant collection of pínakes known as the Pinakes of the Acropolis were inscribed with inventories and decrees, offering valuable historical information. These were displayed publicly, serving as a form of official record-keeping and a means of informing the citizenry. The term "pínax" has also been used in modern scholarship to refer to various types of ancient boards or tablets, underscoring their widespread use throughout the ancient world.