Explore early approaches to medical treatment and self-care with an incredible range of objects dating from as early as 4000 BCE to around 500CE, many from Rome and Egypt.
Classical & Medieval Medicine
151-300 CE
Glass unguent bottle, Roman, 151 to 300 AD
499-500
Ear scoop, bronze, Graeco-Roman
199-500
Ladle, bronze, small, perhaps Roman
Glass unguent bottle, Roman, possibly Egyptian, 151-300AD
251-450
Glass flask, Roman, 251-450AD
Glass flask, dark green, broken, cylindrical body with moulded herringbone pattern, concave base, cylindrical neck, Islamic
200-200
Votive male genitalia, terracotta, probably Roman, 200BC-200AD
300-300
Small terracotta figure of a squatting male supporting priapus over right shoulder, possibly Egyptian(?), 300BC-300
200 BCE - 200 CE
Figure of Bacchus, terracotta, probably Roman, 200BC to 200AD
Small terraccotta votive organ of unknown type, roughly cone-shaped with ribbed sides, probably Roman, 200BC-200
Hollow terracotta figure of Harpocrates sitting astride a huge phallus on rectangular base, possibly Roman 300 BC-300
1-400 CE
Small solid bronze figure of boy(?) standing on a pedestal, phallic, with pitcher(?), under left arm, Roman, 1-400
300-500
Pin, bronze, Hamonic collection, found near Cologne, European, 300BC-500
54-411
Bifurcated probe, bronze, Roman, found in City of London, from Tabor collection
199 BCE - 500 CE
Pin, bronze, Hamonic collection, Roman, 199BC-500AD
Plaster cast copy of an oculist's seal with an inscription on four sides, original Roman
1730-1740
Porcelain statue of Hippocrates, Dresden, marked, 1730-40
Combined scoop and olive-ended probe, bronze, Roman, from Sforza collection
Copy of Graeco-Roman forceps with very wide blade, bronze
Elevator(?), bronze, Roman, from Sforza collection
199 BCE-500 CE
Probe, bronze, excavated in Egypt, Roman, 199 BC to 500 AD
Bronze spoon, Roman(?), possibly later copy. 100BC to 1701
601-900
Glass flask, pale blue, cylindrical body, sloping rounded shoulders, wide funnel neck, plain rim, 7th to 9th centuries
701-900
Glass flask, colourless, globular body, kicked base, cylindrical neck, everted rim, Islamic, 8th to 9th centuries
Glass bottle, Roman, 151-300AD
One of two plaster copies of the base of a Samian bowl bearing oculist's seal impression
1600-1750
Carved wooden figure of Virgin Mary with infant Christ, general patroness of the sick, possibly Spanish or Portuguese, 1600-1750
1600-1400 BCE
"Base Ring" juglet, with handle, earthenware with black slip decoration and relief band round neck, from Cyprus, 1600 BC-1400 BC
Unidentified, shaped like leg of horse, found in Arles, Roman, 199 BC-500 AD
1851-1929
Metal copy of bronze raspatory found at Pompeii, original Roman, European, 1851 to 1929
Metal finger ring, with square setting containing transparent stone engraved with an inscription, possibly Arabic
Double-ended probe, bronze, Roman
Double-ended bronze instrument combined probe and possibly spatula, damaged, Roman (?), 199 BC to 500 AD
Glass unguent bottle, Roman, 151-300 AD
Combined scoop and olive-ended probe, bronze, Roman, excavated 1881-5 in London
Spatula, bronze, Roman
Glass unguent bottle, Roman, 151-300AD
Glass base only, possibly from a jar, Roman, 151 to 300 AD
Small bronze amuletic pendant in form of phallic cross, in display box with similar objects, probably Roman, from Italy, 200BC-200AD
3000-200
Carved granite amulet in form of double phallus, from Behrens collection, Egyptian, 3000BC-200
Votive right foot, terracotta, probably Roman, 200BC-200AD
Small votive terracotta organ, solid cone-shaped with twisted top, possibly represents a stomach, (?) probably Roman, 200BC-200
Tool, possibly glass, part of a collection of Teutonic bronze age grave goods, in two display cases, Russian
Bronze surgical spatula, with elongated bowl, Graeco-Roman
500-500
Combined olive-ended probe and spoon, bronze, 500BC-500AD
100 BCE - 400 CE
Small amuletic pendant in form of manofical hand, Roman(?), from Palestine, 100BC-400AD
Pin, bone, excavated near Cologne, Hamonic collection, Roman(?), 200BC-200AD
