Greco-Roman Medical Equipment (Reproductions) Collection

Dr. Francis Rosenbaum, of the Milwaukee Academy of Medicine, donated a 36-piece collection of these reproductions to the MPM in 1954. This donation represents the majority of the collection – exceptions noted as appropriate. The original medical tools found in Pompeii are on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

The larger pieces – in particular the specula – are fascinating because they are so similar to tools used well into the 20th century. Anyone in the medical profession would easily recognize the function and purpose of the specula and many of the other tools.

Descriptions accompanying the photos are drawn primarily from J.S. Milne’s “Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times” (1907).

Collection Items

Catalog Number : 15957 (formerly 3894)
Accession Number : 213
Greek needle with large eye and decorative tip.
Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465

Speculum, Vaginal dioptra (Greek); speculum magnum matricis (Latin) First mentioned by the Greek Soranus, specialized specula were used to view and treat ailments and abscesses of the uterus. These specula were available in different sizes to be used according to the age and size of the patient. The method for opening and closing these tools was used well into the 18th century. Similar tools are recognizable even today in modern gynecological care.

Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465

Forceps and Tweezers formiceps, vulsella (Latin) No specific information relating to the larger forceps has been found. It is likely they were used in surgeries of the abdomen to pull or hold back areas of tissue. Smaller forceps or tweezers likely had cosmetic purposes such as removal of facial hair, although some records indicate their use as an aid to remove small polyps and tumors from the nose, skin, etc.

Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465

Probes/Curettes/Spoons cyathiscomele (Greek); cyathiscomele (Latin) Many probe-style tools had two functional ends to allow the physician to continue working by simply turning the tool around. Many of the probes in this picture have a spoon on one end. Spoons were used medicinally to measure and to heat medicaments and unguents. Spoons with an elongated bowl were likely used to pour warmed or liquid medicaments. Similar spoons found in a domestic setting may have been used for removing and eating varieties of shellfish.

Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465
Uvula Forceps staphylagra (Greek) An interesting treatment found in the ancient texts refers to the surgical removal of the uvula, using a specialized forceps to hold and crush the uvula before amputation. This procedure was quite common.
Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465
According to Milne this is most likely the handle from a small mirror, perhaps used in medical treatments to observe inside body cavities. It is equally likely to have been used for cosmetic purposes.
Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465

Anti-Adhesion Tube motos molubous (Greek); plumbea fistula (Latin) Milne tells us that: "After operations on the nose, rectum, vagina, etc., it was usual to insert a tube of lead or bronze to prevent contraction or adhesion and also to convey medicaments."

Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465
Decorative medical spoon and knife set.
Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465

Shears, Scissors psalis (Greek); forfex (Latin) These were usually used to cut hair, what Oribasius and Celsus call a "therapeutic procedure". It seems that the blades could not be sharpened to use for cutting tissue, although they would have been used to remove hair around a surgical site prior to surgery.

Catalog Number : 2385
Accession Number : 17465

Hooks, Blunt and Sharp agkistron (Greek); hamus, acutus (Latin) Both sharp and blunt hook types are still in use by doctors today. Blunt hooks were primarily used as probes for dissection and for raising blood vessels. Sharp hooks were used to retract the edges of wounds and to hold and lift small pieces of tissue so that they could be extracted.