Copy of a set of two Roman strigils, Europe, 1880-1920

Made:
1880-1920 in Europe
Set of two strigils on ring, bronze Set of two strigils on ring, bronze

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Set of two strigils on ring, bronze
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of two strigils on ring, bronze
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Set of two strigils on ring, bronze, 1880-1920 copy of Roman original, 200BC to 200AD

Part of the bathing and personal hygiene routine in ancient Rome involved cleaning the body with oil. Having rubbed the oil in, a strigil was used to scrape away any excess as well as any dead skin and dirt. Athletes also used strigils to remove dirt, dust and oil from their bodies after exercise. This was sometimes bottled and sold as a medical treatment called gloios to relieve aches, pains and sprains.

This is a typical example made from bronze with a claw-like shape. The original dates from 200 BCE-200 CE.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A635507
Materials:
bronze
Measurements:
overall: 105 mm x 255 mm 100 mm, .47kg
type:
strigil