Surgical knife, Roman, 199 BCE-400 CE
- Made:
- 199 BCE-400 CE in Roman Empire
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Science Museum Group Collection
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Knife, iron blade and bronze handle, Roman, found in Roman in 1932
The bronze handle of this surgical knife was designed to be held between the thumb and the first two fingers, similar to holding a modern scalpel. Unfortunately, the tip of the knife is missing.
Bronze was the metal of choice for Greek and Roman surgical and medical instrument makers until the introduction of iron and steel in the 500s and 600s CE, metals which gave a better cutting edge. This knife was found in Rome, Italy in 1932.
Details
- Category:
- Classical & Medieval Medicine
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A129089
- Materials:
- bronze
- Measurements:
-
overall: 9 mm x 157 mm x 23 mm, 0.064 kg
- type:
- surgical knife
- credit:
- Fallani
