On Display

Roman vaginal speculum, 100 BC-400 AD.

Bronze vaginal speculum, probably Roman, found in the Lebanon, made c. 100BC to 400AD, although the screw part is modern. It comprises a priapiscus with dovetailing valves which are opened and closed by a handle with a screw mechanism. It shows the r

 
Asclepius, marble statuette, Greek, 400-200 BC.

Marble statue of Aesculapius, probably Greek, 400-200 BC

 
Pharmacy jar, Islamic, probably 18th century.

Earthenware drug jar, glazed, Islamic

 
Statuette of the goddess, Hygeia, Roman, 250-100 BC.

Statue of Hygeia, made of white marble, found at Ostia, Roman, 250-100BC. Hygeia was the Greek and Roman goddess of health and is the root word for hygiene.

 
Ancient Egyptian amulet, heart-shaped stone, 4000-30 BC.

Heart-shaped stone amulet, Egyptian, 4000-30 BC. Possibly taken from a tomb.

 
Bronze Age 'base ring' juglets, Cyprus, 14th century BC.

"Base Ring" juglet with handle, of polished earthenware, with decorative relief bands and traces of dark slip, from Cyprus, 1600BC-1400BC. Earthenware is a low-fired ceramic that is porous unless covered with glaze. Most clays can be used to produce

 
Phlebotomy measuring device, Egyptian, c 1354.

Model of a blood letting device as described by muslim scholar Al-Jazari in AD 1204-6, and reconstructed in 1977. It measured the blood lost during phlebotomy (blood-letting) sessions, a popular therapy in the Arab world. It is illustrated in Al-Jaza

 
Ancient Egyptian eye amulets, 4000-30 BC.

Faience amulet, eye, Egyptian, 4000-30BC

 
Bronze Roman cupping vessel, 1-79 AD.

Bronze cupping vessel, from Pompeii, Roman, 1-79AD. Cupping was an ancient therapy intended to restore the balance of the body. It remained popular in the Western world until the 19th century.

 
Group of Ancient Egyptian amulets, 4000-30 BC.

Faience amulet, djed, Egyptian, 400-30BC