Tools Used in Ancient Rome

For twelve centuries, the Roman Empire stood as thewounds, especially to the skull. Bone Levers were
greatest civilizations in history. Spanning from Rome,invented for use in levering bones into place that had
Italy across Europe and parts of Asia Minor, thebeen fractured, as well as removing teeth. It was the
Roman Empire saw both glory and suffering. Greatancient Romans, especially the doctor Soranus, the
wars were fought in the name of Rome and entirefirst gynecologist and obstetrician, that had created the
civilizations were conquered to ensure the glory ofvaginal speculum, as well. However, their additions to
Rome stood unquestioned. However, the Romansthe tools of today are not only medical. They also
techniques in battle and warfare were not what madedesigned incredible tools for metal crafting.
Rome great. The tools that they used to build theirThe ancient Romans were the first to perfect cast
empire, both for battle and for architecture, venturedmetal and used that perfection to create the first cast
paths in history that will never be forgot. Their keenmetal hammer head. This tool was then used for more
use of metals such as bronze and Iron, and even steel,complicated metal forging, like weapons and armor.
were unrivaled. It is fitting that today's world still usesThey also created the lathe, using a lathing rod that
most of the tools designed and perfected by thiswas shaped from stone. It was turned using a system
ancient civilization, though, in some cases you wouldof gears and ropes that was powered using a treadle
hardly recognize them as ancient Roman tools.press. They also created the most efficient drilling
Today's medical achievements owe their existence tosystem. The Romans also used tools to pull wire that
ancient Roman tools. It was Rome and Greece thatconsisted of stone grates used to pull nearly-molten
open the world to "modern" medicine, as well asmetal into wire. However, the ancient Roman tools
surgery. Our surgeons and doctors still use most ofwere also designed for versatility, like the scythe. In
the same ideas, teachings, philosophies and tools asfact, the scythe was the first consumer item that was
the ancient Romans. The scalpel is one of the greatestproduced from cast metal. It was cast from bronze,
surgical tools ever created by an ancient civilization. Itthen iron, and again from black steel. Other ancient
was comprised, typically, of bronze or iron and mostlyRoman tools included the navigational tool called a
came in two sizes. The larger of these weresextant, as well as counterweights used for sailing that
commonly used for long, or deep incisions, while themade it more simple to raise and lower the sails of
shorter scalpel was used for more fine detail surgeries.their ships.
The ancient Romans were also responsible for boneDespite these magnificent additions to the world, the
hooks, which were used for several purposes. Theancient Roman tool makers guarded the secrets of
blunted hooks were used as probes to assist withtheir craft and, when the Roman Empire fell, many of
dissections, as well as raising blood vessels. The sharptheir tool designs disappeared along with them, leading
hooks were typically used for holding or lifting smallinto the era known as the Dark Ages. Since then,
flaps of tissue to be extracted, as well as retractingthough, we have rebuilt the tools that helped build the
the edges of most injuries.glory of Rome, redesigning them to fit our modern
Also in surgery, the ancient Roman tools included bonetimes, and perfecting them. However, the shadows of
forceps for extracting fragments of bone fromthe ancient designs are still there.