Images

Romans escaping the city sacked by Brennus in 390 BCE.

Vae victis! Woe to the vanquished! Brennus throws his sword on the scale after the sack of Rome in 390 BCE. Print by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman, based on the drawing of Jacobus Buys, 1794

Modern depiction of Brennus, on display in the Musée national de la Marine.

This embalmed lung tissue was found in the canopic coffinette of the treasury scribe of the domain of Amun, Sutimose. Microscopic examination of a section of this tissue revealed an evidence that Sutimose had suffered from anthracosis (a...

The skull of this middle-aged man shows clear dental attrition (wear of the biting surfaces of the teeth). The injury to the left parietal bone may have occured after death. From Sedment, Egypt. 6th Dynasty, circa 2345-2181 BCE. The British...

This false toe was found attached to the foot of a mummy, and is an early example of the use of prosthetics in the ancient world. From Egypt. Third Intermediate Peridod, 1070-664 BCE. (The British Museum, London)

The skull shows heavily worn teeth and evidence of tooth abscesses. From Asyut, Efgypt. Early 12th Dynasty, circa 1950 BCE. The British Museum, London.

This right femoral bone shows evidence of malunion and misalignment of a healed fractured. From Abydos, Egypt. Late Period, after 664 BCE. (The British Museum, London)

These plaits of human hair appear to have been prepared for incorporation into a wig, or for attachment as extensions to the natural hairs. They were probably found with the mummy of the woman Katebet. Probably from Thebes, Egypt. New Kingdom...

The left femur and tibial bones of this elderly man show evidence of arthritis at the knee joint. From tomb 36, Gabati, Sudan. Meroitic period or later, circa 300 BCE. (Th British Museum, London)