Pertinax

Incredible picture. Wonder if this is the equipment Tertullian wrote about in 203 "a flexible frame for opening the uterus...futher furnished with an anular blade..its last appendage being a blunted or covered hook, wherewith the entire fetus is extracted by a violent delivery. There is also a copper needle or spike by which the actual death is managed." (A Treastise on the Sout, 25) Anyone know of any studies about abortion and the death of Roman women? Rodney Stark mentions that abortion was a leading cause of death, which I believe he bases upon an essay? book? by Gorman. Blessings, Jeri I have established initial links with LEG II AVG , the Midwife and I feel we might be able to collaborate on the admixture, use and storage of medications/applications especially in relation to obstetrics and combat trauma wounds, this would meantime allow me to gain a fuller knowledge of the contemporary surgical instruments. This lady has a very wide range of actual recovered instruments, re-created items and quite a few for which the provenance is undecided. So I hope I can furnish more information in due course. Certainly the instruments shown here are AD 1-180 in time frame. The Roman "birthing chair" which was on display is ,save as to materials, on sale again as a "modern innovation" in obstetrics. AS I have mentioned in the blog , her opinion as to birth control was that infanticide was the predominant method, but I will find out more before making such a generalisation, certainly the attitude to contraception and conception appears to have been laissez faire.In the meantime if members have more information on this topic I would be glad to know of it.

Ive uploaded here http://triclinium.spaces.msn.com/ again, if you scroll to LEG II AVG gallery and wade through the entries there are shield grip photos/armour/ephemera for gladiators and more medical shots.Some ballista and catatpulta as well.

Now I did say I would get hold of the re-created Roman dentistry "model" and here he is ,complete with the "hammered in " two pronged lead tooth (see earlier in thread) and if that doesnt make you feeel too good he also has some riveting bridge work in brass. By way of explanation I should say that this is the replication of work from two skull finds, at least the suffering was shared. THe gum would have been cauterised by hot iron first. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=923 however things havent changed as far as "dentures " go have they?

I was thinking about you LW , I know you are a great fan of the arena! I can give you another link for the Gladiator school I visited today: http://www.ludus.org.uk/g/groups.html and check my gallery update here and (shortly on msn). http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=921 I had a long chat with the "owner " of the school regarding weapon use and shield grips, and regarding the realities of actual fighting and what information arises from that.I will post further on specialised shield grips.

I have posted a blog entry and a comment regarding abortion as part of my notes relating to meeting a moderm midwife who is a re-enactor Roman midwife http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...p;showentry=425 The photo link to the specialised equipment may not be for the faint hearted, but it is an acurrate and faithful attempt at re-creating an historical surgical tool.

The weather in Britain never fails to amaze, last weekend the LEG II got a thorough soaking at Bremetenacvm, and have had to work all week at drying and reparing kit, but today a slave had to make rounds with water for the troops who were sweltering in their armour. So the Legion was at Gargrave, nearest therefore to Olinacvm on the road from Bremetenacvm to Eboracvm. There is evidence of a substantial villa adjacent to the village http://www.outofoblivion.org.uk/record.asp?id=240 The Legion had its supporting civilian units and , on this ocassion in adittion , the midwife, the fast food outlet and more dangerous than either of these , the gladiator school. The medical tent had a greater array of instruments due to the presence of the midwife, and I will give detailed information in the Roman Medicine thread in due course. I had particularly set out to get shots of the cataract surgical tools which are a faithful copy of a Mediterranean find, interestingly, as regards all the various pieces on display , all the British and Gallic finds tend to be heavier and more simply constructed -the nearer to Rome the fancier and finer in construction. The catarct tool is very simple and would have been deployed quickly and effectivley by a skilled Doctor, the cataract is cut into with a very fine point and the rear tube is drawn out (like a fountain pen) to produce a small vacuum thus drawing the excised tissue away from the eye. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?&a...=si&img=919 The midwife is ,in reality,a contemporary midwife and we discussed Roman birth control and infanticide, she was of the opinion that birth control was predominantly dealt with by infanticide or abortion , though herbal medication and sympathetic magic were also involved: here we see the specialised tool for extraction of an unwanted infant from the womb, often mistaken for forceps these are a much smaller and heavier instrument .I do note that Pliny recommends "fat from the loins of a hyaena" which will bring an immediate resolutuion to difficult labour. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?&a...=si&img=920 The array of items also included trephanation tools, catheters (male and female -beautifully made to a top class finish) and small bone saws for amputation.The equipment for the extraction of opiate latex from the popppy seed head is exactly the same then as now, a very hot deeply bowled spoon.Here is the best surviving midwifery text available. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0801843...ce&n=266239 The gladiator school was a well equipped hut , I can do no better than illustrate its excellent selection of weaponry and equipment http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=918 http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=922 and I was able to have a long chat about shield grips and weapon usage (in general not just in the arena) which was very informative .And here is one of its fearsome inhabitants: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=921 So an informative excursion. AS usual upload off site of approx 50 images here in LEG II AVG gallery http://triclinium.spaces.msn.com/

Alas I was refering to the location in its heyday! However I am quite prepared to eat and watch cabaret anywhere.Madame P is of a fiery sensibility and I fear that my purse would be at risk were I to consider inappropriate disbursement of funds.

This is one site I would enjoy seeing if any restoration is undertaken, Ive always bypassed this area for the reasons cited in the main article, but the tantalising references to the night life and splendidly decadent behaviour here have always interested me-this would surely be the place to eat out. A bit of cabaret would be ok as well :angel: . The towns assets are well displayed in the photograph.

LW try here: http://www.freewarehome.com/ try looking for "tiny piano"

Sutton Hoo,Le Voila! http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/...w-suttonhoo.htm Burialplace of Anglo-Saxon Kings, the ship burial is perhaps the most spectacular.

I must say I don't see the problem with this. People in many countries are supposed to report finds of antiquities to the authorities, and that applies in Greece as it does in the UK. If the coin was not properly reported, smuggled to Britain, spent a couple of years there, and has now gone back where it belongs, that's good, isn't it? Happy ending. In any case the coin is not unique. 58 specimens are known. I bet you a pint of Young's Special that at least one of those 58 is in the British Museum, which has just about the best collection of Greek and Roman coins in the world. As for the Marbles, that would be another thread. Or maybe it has been already? And indeed the Marbles have had a good run out over some bumpy ground. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...l=elgin+marbles

My apologies, and I will veer slightly off topic as the "swine array" is in itself technically a re-invention of the individual "teeth" of the saw formation posited by GO. a-Viking combat had the concept of personal fidelity to a war chief at its core, one of the main planks of approved honourable behaviour were acts of physical bravery. a-Viking units might find themselves the key opposing mercenaries or most battleworthy troops on the field, you require a wedge formation of variously armed men (sword, axe in particular) to punch through an opposing shield wall. Risk is great, honour is likewise immense. It is in minature a column attack on a line.The best counter measyre was also a swine array.The name is from the rush of that most dangerous of hunted beasts , the wild pig. Longbow mighht have something to say about this post. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=257 here is an early photo post of some jolly Norsemen waving at the opposition.

Yes we must be clear that medical work was after the event, I did not want to imply retrival during combat, but that it was considered only good housekeeping to re-cycle those who had been trained and were experienced. We have discussed "rotation" elsewhere and I think the consensus is that it would be rather difficult as a planned activity in the most unplanned and unpredictable of circumstances. We have also discussed suicide as an honourable death in certain military contexts (Jewish Revolt in particular), so the mindset of the Roman soldier might be somewhat out of step as regards those with a Judaeo-Christian moral background.