The Science and Art of Medicine

 

On Display

Wooden plaque of St Lucy of Syracuse, Spanish, 17th century.

Wooden plaque of Saint Lucy, Spain, 1601-1700. St. Lucy was martyred in the 3rd century AD during the persecution of the Christians by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. She became a patron of eye problems because legend told how she never wished to marry

 
Statue of St Sebastian, German, possibly 16th century.

Oak statue of St Sebastian, believed to originate from the lower Rhennish (Rhine) area of Germany, possibly 1501-1600. Little is known for sure about his life, other than that he was a martyr who was buried on the Appian Way near Rome, in the third c

 
Statue of St Nicholas, France, 17th century.

Wooden statue of St. Nicholas, France, 1601-1700. In this statue, at his feet, are three children in a tub. This relates to when he lodged with an inn keeper, during a time of famine, who had killed three children and salted them down for food. When

 
Wooden statue of St Livertin, French, 17th century.

Wooden statue of Saint Livertin, France, 1601-1700. Usually depicted clutching his head, Livertin is said to protect against headaches.

 
Wooden statue of St Benignus, probably French, 17th century.

Wooden statue of Saint Benignus, France, probably c. 1601-1700. Benignus may have been a missionary priest from Lyons who was martyred at Epagny, France in the late second century under the Roman emperor Aurelian. He is depicted, during his martyrdom

 
Bronze toiletry mirror, Egyptian, 800 BC-100 BC.

Bronze toiletry mirror, Egyptian, 800BC-100BC

 
Ancient Egyptian Canopic burial jar, 800-200 BC.

Alabaster canopic jar with portrait of Imseti, also known as Mestha, on lid, Ancient Egyptian, 800BC-200BC. During the preparation for mummification, the brains were removed through the nostrils, and then an incision was made in the side of the body

 
Bronze seated figurine of the young Imhotep, 900 BC - 300 BC.

Bronze seated figurine of the young Imhotep, Egyptian, 900-300BC

 
Statuette of Imhotep seated, Egyptian, 600-500 BC.

Seated figurine of Imhotep, made of electrum metal, Ancient Egyptian, 600-500BC. Imhotep (2686-2613 BC) was the first known physician and chief adviser to King Zoser (Djoser), in the 3rd dynasty. He was also the architect of the first pyramid in Egyp

 
Bronze surgical knives, Egypt and Mesopotamia, c 600-200 BC.

Knife, brocze, with hooked blade, believed to have been used for cutting attachments of internal organs in evisceration prior to embalming, Egyptian, 600-200BC