What happened when people fell ill in Roman times? Who did they turn to for treatment? What was the status of the doctor at a time when there was no official qualification for medical training? How did people understand how the body worked? What therapeutic methods were available? A series of recent archaeological studies and discoveries provide a fresh perspective on medical practice in Antiquity, its failures and successes.
This exhibition, designed and curated by Véronique Dasen, Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Fribourg, explores new aspects of the history of ancient medicine, focusing on the work of men and women doctors, their patients, both happy and unhappy, and the invaluable help of the gods and magic. For the first time, the exhibition brought together all the instruments used by Roman physicians.
A publication has been produced to accompany the exhibition.
