This page cannot be viewed in frames

Go to page

If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Ancient Roman trepan

This post is also available in: Polish (polski)

Ancient Roman trepan
Ancient Roman trepan

Ancient Roman trepan – used in Roman medicine to drill a circular hole in bone or other tissue by pressing and twisting. The object is made of bronze.

Titus Livius tells how the Egyptian king Ptolemy VI in 145 BCE was wounded in battle and surgery was undertaken on his head. The trepanation, however, ended with the death of the ruler, which was probably the norm in the ancient world.

Sources
  • Titus Livius, Periochae, 52.12

IMPERIUM ROMANUM needs your support!

If you like the content that I collect on the website and that I share on social media channels I will be grateful for the support. Even the smallest amounts will allow me to pay for further corrections, improvements on the site and pay the server.

Support IMPERIUM ROMANUM!

Support IMPERIUM ROMANUM!

Find out more!

Check your curiosity and learn something new about the ancient world of the Romans. By clicking on the link below, you will be redirected to a random entry.

Random curiosity

Random curiosity

Discover secrets of ancient Rome!

If you want to be up to date with newest articles on website and discoveries from the world of ancient Rome, subscribe to the newsletter, which is sent each Saturday.

Subscribe to newsletter!

Subscribe to newsletter

Spelling error report

The following text will be sent to our editors: