The Science and Art of Medicine

 

On Display

Three knives, Egyptian, 2000-100 BC.

Knife, bronze, hooked blade, probably used for cutting internal attachments of internal organs in evisceration prior to embalming, Egyptian, 2000-100BC

 
Votive viscera, probably Roman, 200 BC-200 AD.

Votive viscera, female, terracotta, probably Roman, 200BC-200AD. Votive offerings were gifts given to the gods in prayer. These would often be in the form or representation of the injured or diseased part of the body and would be left at the temple o

 
Roman votive eyes and ears, bronze, 200 BC-100 AD.

Votive eyes, bronze, Roman, 200BC-100AD

 
Wooden statue of St Cosmas, probably French, 19th century.

Wooden figure of Saint Cosmas, probably French, 1801-1900. St. Cosmas and his twin brother St. Damian are the patron saints of physicians. They were physicians who would not accept payment for treatment, an act of charity which converted many people

 
Votive male torso, Roman, 200BC-200AD.

Votive male torso, dissected to show viscera, reputedly from Isola Farnese in Italy, Roman, 200BC-200AD. Votive offerings were gifts given to the gods in prayer. These would often be in the form or representation of the injured or diseased part of th

 
Ancient Egyptian kohl pots, 1800-200 BC.

Granite Kohl pot and stick, Egyptian, 1800BC to 200BC. Make-up was in common use in Ancient Egypt and focused particularly on the eye, in order to replicate the appearance of the sun god, Re. Kohl eyeliner was frequently used to achieve this effect.

 
Ancient Egyptian toilet box with ivory inlay, 650-350 BC.

Ivory inlaid wooden toilet box, Egyptian, 650BC to 350BC. Makeup was in common use in ancient Egypt. Eye shadow pots, mirrors and perfume jars were among the items frequently found in boxes like this. Toilet boxes were also buried with mummies (embal

 
Artificial leg, Roman, c 300 BC.

Copy of Roman artificial leg, c.1910. The original was made of bronze and had been excavated from a grave in Capua, Italy. Dating from c.300BC, it was the oldest artificial limb to be discovered. Kept at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, it

 
Greek and Roman mixing bowls with 'Larva Convivialis', 450 BC-200 AD.

Red figure column krater, decorated with drinking scenes by the Cleveland Painter, inscription painted over are of the figures, Attica, Greece, 460-440BC

 
Three pairs of Roman surgical shears, 200-500 AD.

Surgical shears, small, bronze, Roman