Tessera ::
Tessera (n.) A small piece of
marble, glass, earthenware, or the like,
having a
square, or
nearly square, face, used by the
ancients for
mosaic, as for
making pavements, for
ornamenting walls, and like
purposes; also, a
similar piece of
ivory, bone, wood, etc., used as a
ticket of
admission to
theaters, or as a
certificate for
successful gladiators, and as a token for
various other
purposes..