This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
'lion'-shaped forceps, steel, Indian.
Full view, graduated matt black perspex background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
'lion'-shaped forceps, steel, Indian
Ancient instrument designs incorporated the heads of different animals. This replica example of a pincer instrument represents a lion’s mouth. The original was said to be used within Ayurvedic medicine. This ancient medical tradition has its roots in the Indian subcontinent. The name Ayurveda comes from ayus (‘life’) and veda (‘knowledge or science’). This indicates Ayurveda incorporates a whole way of living. Surgery (Shalya-chikitsa) is one of the eight ancient branches of Ayurvedic medicine. However, surgery has no clear identity today.
The Susrata Samhita is a classic text of Ayurvedic medicine. It describes a range of surgical practices. It was written by Hindu surgeon Susrata who practiced from about 500BCE.
Details
- Category:
- Asian Medicine
- Object Number:
- A643679
- type:
- surgical instrument
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- surgical equipment
- derivative object
- copy - derivative object
- reproduction
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
Download 
manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
