The simplest scales, invented by man in ancient times, were elevated to the rank of an instrument of the Supreme Judge who impartially administered the court. For some, the verdict was eternal paradise, for others - suffering and eternal torment. Over time, the instrument of justice was transformed into an instrument of measure. Interesting facts about the scales are further in the review.
"Allegory of Justice". Author: Pyur Sübleira. | Photo: uk.wikipedia.org/wiki
The balance from the French balance is literally scales, and from the Latin bilanx - having two weighing bowls. In many areas of human activity, balance is used to determine the relationship and balance between something.
Lever scales. | Photo: uk.wikipedia.org
The simplest device for determining weight, from the fifth millennium BC, has been a lever balance. The structure of which consisted of a long beam with a support in the center. Two bowls were attached to the ends, on one of which the object to be weighed was placed, on the other - weights of the corresponding weight.
The Last Judgment in Ancient Egypt. Scales and a feather of Truth
When the Egyptian completed his life, he fell into the palace of Both Truths: the place of the last tests. In the middle of the palace on the throne sat Osiris - the king of the underworld, surrounded by 42 gods. The Last Judgment ruled.
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The Last Judgment in Ancient Egypt, headed by the king of the afterlife - Osiris. Photo: artchive.ru
The balance of justice and fairness in Ancient Egypt was considered to be scales that could not be deceived. These drawings testify to how the god of justice and the art of writing, Thoth with the head of an ibis, balanced the feather of Truth of the goddess Maat and the heart of a deceased person. Nearby sat the terrible monster Amethyt, waiting for its victim.
Weighing the feather of Truth of the goddess Maat and the heart of the deceased. Photo: livejournal.com
Only the heart of the righteous was lighter than a pen. This was evidenced by the arrow on the scales. And then the deceased himself uttered a speech of excuse in front of the gods: “I did not do evil, did not commit violence, did not steal, did not kill, did not lie … did not commit adultery … did not get angry to the point of rage … I didn’t make anyone cry … I didn’t take milk from a nursing baby … did not force people to work beyond their strength … I fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, clothed the naked … I am clean! I am clean! I am clean! I am clean! . To which Osiris invited the deceased to enter the tangy door, behind which the resurrection took place.
Sinners, whose hearts outweighed the feather of Truth, were devoured by a monster that had the body of a hyena and a hippopotamus, a lion's mane and the mouth of a crocodile.
Libra - an attribute of the Last Judgment in Christianity
Scales were the most ancient symbol of measure and justice, which weighed the good and evil committed by a person during his lifetime. And from what the cup outweighed - such was the fate of a person after death. This is the most common plot of the Last Judgment painting not only in Christianity, but also in Judaism and Islam.
The scene of the Last Judgment on the frescoes of the temple. | Photo: artchive.ru
For Christian iconography, this symbolism was borrowed from the Ancient Egyptians. The mosaic on the Cathedral of the Island of Torcello, dating from 639 AD, is proof of this. It depicts the procedure for weighing the soul, during which devils with long poles try to tip the scales in their direction.
Scales of the Last Judgment. | Photo: artchive.ru
In Christianity, the main "weigher" of posthumous destinies in the biblical covenants was the Archangel Michael - one of the most revered Archangels in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Weighing of souls by Archangel Michael. (1490). National Art Museum of Catalonia. | Photo: artchive.ru
Religious canons began to ascribe to Michael not only the victory over the devil and unclean forces, but also the role of the chief judge of the Last Judgment, to which the souls of the dead were called by his trumpet voice.
Archangel Michael weighing souls at the Last Judgment. Author: Rogira van Weyden. | Photo: artchive.ru
This plot, which has become a traditional motif of the Last Judgment iconography, is very common in church murals. And the Archangel Michael himself acquired the role of the patron saint of the dead.
Libra - a symbol of hunger and lack in Judaism
The Horsemen of the Apocalypse engraving depicts a gruesome scene of the end of the world, announced by the galloping horsemen. Libra in ancient Judea is a symbol of hunger, lack. Because, in order to divide conscientiously small stocks, an exact weight was needed. But, as we can see, the scales in the hands of the rushing horseman are not balanced - they bring people an unjust judgment.
"Horsemen of the Apocalypse". Engraving. Author: Albrecht Durer. | Photo: artchive.ru
Everything in moderation. Libra in the Renaissance
Since the Renaissance, the image of scales appeared not only as a religious instrument inherent in the scenes of the Last Judgment, but also as a yardstick in everyday life.
"Saint Eligius". (1449). Author: Petrus Christus. | Photo: artchive.ru
A woman in thought holds an empty scale in her hands. Apparently, she mentally put her perfect deeds on their cups: good and bad. This action was prompted by the scene-picture "The Last Judgment" hanging behind her back.
"Woman holding scales." Author: Jan Vermeer. | Photo: artchive.ru
"Lender with his wife." (1514). Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium. Posted by Quentin Massys | Photo: artchive.ru
"Payback" (Misalliance). (1532). Author: Lucas Cranach. | Photo: artchive.ru
For a long time, each of the United Provinces of the Netherlands had in use not only its own coin, but also its own measures of weight. And only by weighing the coin, you could find out how much it really costs. In the picture we see how a young girl captivates a rich old man, setting a well-adjusted price for herself.
"The Grocer's Shop." (1647). Author: Gerrit Dow. | Photo: artchive.ru
In the genre scenes of Dutch painters, the scales are an attribute of the prosperity of trade, which cannot be done without.
The weight of truth
In the engraving we see a female image depicted in deep thought. This is a wise and impartial Logic, carefully weighing true and false judgments on its scales.
"Melancholy". (1514). Engraving. Author: Albrecht Durer. | Photo: artchive.ru
Witch scales
And here is another amazing historical fact associated with the scales: in the 17th century, witch hunts were widespread by the Inquisition in Western Europe. Women accused of witchcraft were weighed on huge scales. It was believed that a witch's broom could withstand a weight of up to 50 kilograms. When weighing a suspect, this served as a complete proof of involvement in evil spirits or its innocence.
"Witch's Scales". Engraving. XIX century. | Photo: elitereaders.com
Libra by Gilles de Roberval
From century to century, peoples adopted this fateful tool from each other, both in religious and in everyday life, which later became commercial equipment.
Libra by Gilles de Roberval | Photo: livejournal.com
Gilles de Roberval, a French mathematician and physicist, invented several astronomical instruments and the so-called Roberval balance, which he demonstrated in 1669 at the Academy of Sciences in Paris.
Libra by Gilles de Roberval. Author: Antonio Diaza. | Photo: livejournal.com
Scales of the Joseph Beranger system
In 1849, the French inventor Joseph Beranger improved the weighing device with auxiliary arms, which increased the sensitivity of the device. But the scales of the new design were launched into mass production only at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Scales of the Beranger system. | Photo: livejournal.com
Author: G. M. Korzhev-Chuvelev. | Photo: livejournal.com
Quinto. Author: V. Giovanni. | Photo: liveinternet.ru
Libra. Author: V. Grachev. | Photo: pinterest.com
After a number of improvements, the scales of this design have become one of the most common, and until today they are quite widely used in trade, especially in the markets.
