Roman Shears
Catalogue Image
2015-00-00
Name/Title
Roman ShearsEntry/Object ID
95R0155aDescription
Surgical shears with heavy verdigris patina. Small rectangular sticker to the body.Use
Hair Cutting, Medicine, Surgery, Surgical ToolContext
Also called 'forfex' by the Romans, shears were used regularly by Roman for cutting hair before a medical procedure was undertaken. Celsus also relates that cutting hair was sometimes considered a therapeutic treatment. It is possible the edges of shears in the ancient world were never able to be made sharp enough to be of use in surgery, however Celsus apparently used shears in the treatment of abdominal injuries to cut away any dead or decaying organs. They are also believed to have been used to cut bandages for dressing wounds.Made/Created
Date made
79 CE - 79 CETime Period
Roman ImperialEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Roman