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
199 BCE-500 CE
Probe(?) pointed, incomplete, Roman(?), 199BC-500AD
251-450
Glass flask, Roman, 251 to 450 AD
Glass flask, Roman, 251-450AD
1-150 CE
GLass flask, green, globular body, flat base, cylindrical neck, everted rim, early Roman, 1-150AD
Glass flask, pale blue, shouldered body tapering to concave base, cylindrical neck, funnel mouth, weathered, Islamic
3000BCE-100CE
Limestone relief tablet depicting a human figure standing upon a crocodile, with hieroglyphic text on reverse side, Ancient Egyptian, 3000BCE-100CE.
Bronze amulet in form of male genitalia flanked by penis and mano fica
500-1450
Bronze pendant(?) disc, perforated for suspension(?), grave object, South American, 500-1450
500-400
Hollow terracotta figure on base, phallic male wearing animal skin(?) and holding urine jars - possibly Dionysus, Graeco-Roman, probably from Egypt(?), 500 BC-400
200-100
Votive eye, terracotta, Roman, 200BC-100AD
Bronze 'knife' shaped flat piece of metal, unsigned, 4,000-1500BCE
1701-1850
Wooden figure of Saint Barbara, with tower, patroness of artillerymen and those working in dangerous professions, possibly German, 1700 to 1850
200-200
Votive right foot, terracotta, probably Roman, 200BC-200AD
Earthenware feeding bottle or lamp filler, Greek
54-411
Combined scoop and olive-ended probe, bronze, Roman, found in London
199-500
Aural scoop, bronze, Roman, found at Peronne, from Hamonic collection
151-300 CE
Glass unguent bottle, Roman, 151-300AD, possibly made in Egypt
Piece of unidentified bronze object, date and provenance unknown
Depilatory forceps, bronze, Roman from Sforza collection, 199-500
Probe or large pin, bronze, Roman
Glass jug, with 1 handle, Roman, 151 to 300 AD
Glass jug, with one handle, Roman, 151-300 AD
Glass flask, with moulded decoration, Roman, 151-300AD
200 BCE -200 CE
Votive mouth, showing teeth, terracotta, Roman, 200BC-200AD
Glass jar, Roman, 151 to 300 AD
Pin, bone, incomplete, date and provenance unknown
800-701 BCE
Statue, female, standing, terracotta, Cyprus, 8th century BC, possibly Aphrodite
200 BCE-200 CE
Carved ivory phallic amulet, in display case with others, Roman, from Italy, 200BC-200AD
1861-1920
Clear glass bleeding cup with solid glass knob at base, from Northern Algeria, 1861-1920
400-1
Votive head, terracotta, possibly Roman, 400BC-1BC
Fragment of unglazed terracotta figure of phallic friar, no production details, possibly medieval
300-100
Male head, terracotta, possibly Greek, 300AD to 100AD
Bronze amulet, in the form a stylized male head and torso with erect phallus
Terracotta votive offering in form of male genitalia, Roman
Terracotta votive offering, in form of stylised uterus, Roman
Putty impression, with four impressions from the oculist's seal
100 BCE - 400 CE
Small bronze pendant amulet in form of priapus, Roman, from Italy, 100BC-400AD
500 BCE - 400 CE
Hollow arch-shaped plaque with figures of male and female moulded, in relief on front, stand below vines, possibly inscribed along bottom, Greek(?) or Roman(?), 500 BC-400AD
Votive uterus, wrinkled, with ivory, terracotta, Italy, 200BC-200AD
Combined spatula and olive-ended probe, bronze, Roman, found in London
Needle, bronze, Roman, found in London
Double-ended spatula, bronze, Roman, 199 BC-500 AD
199-79
Bronze instrument, perhaps a combined probe and elevator, Roman, found at Pompeii, from Sambon collection
Combined olive ended prob4e and scoop, bronze, perhaps, Roman, found in tomb at Tyre, from Hamonic collection
Cautery, iron, perhaps Roman, found at Tyre, from Hamonic collection
500-500
Haemostatic(?) forceps, bronze, from Crete, Graeco-Roman, Hamonic collection, 500BC-500AD
Bronze copy of a Graeco-Roman cupping vessel excavated at Kolophon, Ionia
