In the ruins of Pompeii, archaeologists have identified a man who was likely a doctor. His profession is evidenced by a small box of medical instruments he took with him while trying to escape the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
The man’s remains were discovered in 1961 in the so-called Garden of the Fugitives (Orto dei Fuggiaschi), where casts of fourteen people who died trying to leave the city were found. Only modern research, using computed tomography, X-rays, 3D reconstructions, and artificial intelligence, allowed for a thorough analysis of the contents of a box found with one of the victims.
Inside, several metal surgical instruments, a slate plate used for preparing medicines, and a pouch containing bronze and silver coins were found. The discovered items indicate that the owner of the box was a physician and likely intended to continue his practice if he survived the disaster.
In ancient Rome, doctors used surprisingly advanced tools. Their equipment included scalpels, probes, hooks, and forceps. Many of them were of Greek origin, and their medical knowledge was based on the tradition of Hippocrates and Galen.
