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Why did Roman emperors and consuls give out ivory diptychs?

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Inupiat shaman's figure. — ivory carving Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.

In the later Roman Empire, ivory diptychs served as significant ceremonial tokens used to mark important social and political milestones.12

Consuls presented these diptychs to friends and individuals of importance upon their entry into office as a way to commemorate their new position. Similarly, Roman emperors and patrician families issued these objects to celebrate specific occasions, such as marriages.12

These diptychs were typically crafted from ivory and featured intricate relief carvings, often depicting portraits, historical events, or symbolic scenes. Beyond their role as commemorative gifts, the term diptych refers to two tablets hinged together, which were originally utilized throughout the Roman Empire for writing letters and official documents.12