Dividers are used to measure of linear distances and can be used to add them together. In this sense dividers have not changed significantly in design or function over two millennia. This early example of a pair of dividers is from Rome in the 1st - 3rd Century AD.
The dividers were purchased at auction on 9 Dec 2018 in a lot that also contained a Roman flint fire starter. The description was:
“A Roman fire starter and compass/divider, c. 1st - 3rd Century AD, the Firestarter with incised decoration and with iron and flint, 2 x 1.75 in (5.1 x 4.5 cm), the compass with central domed pin, now frozen in place, and two long tapering pointers, L: 4.75 in (12.1 cm). Both nice items used for construction and everyday life! Ex Los Angeles private collection.”
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