La cura dei cinque sensi nell’antica Roma

Herculaneum is a Roman city that, with other flourishing cities located at the foot of Vesuvius (Pompeii, Oplontis, Stabia), was completely destroyed by the eruption of 79 AD. The ancient ruins of Herculaneum were casually discovered in the 18th century and, since then, archaeological excavations have been conducted. The excavations carried out in 1982, in the area corresponding to the ancient coast of Herculaneum, brought to light not only the remains of about 250 victims of the eruption, but also the remains of burned food and various bronze and iron medical and surgical instruments. Through an interdisciplinary approach, by the study of biological and archaeological remains and literary sources, it is possible to obtain valuable information on pathologies of the oral cavity, eyes, hands and other organs related to the sensory system, on therapies and medical treatments, and on the accessibility to health care. The collaboration of humanistic and scientific disciplines allows us to reconstruct a clearer picture on the diseases of the past, on ancient medical practices and, more generally, on the habits and lifestyles of the ancient Roman people.