1st-3rd century AD. A bronze handled surgeon's knifeprising a leaf-shaped blade, handle with grid decoration to one face, narrowing at one corner, coiling around to the reverse, forming a snake with scale detailing and a head with recessed circular eyes. See Milne, J.S., Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times, Oxford, 1907, pls. XI, no,2,4, for medical tools with identical snakes. 59.4 grams, 19.5cm long (7 3/4"). North American collection, 1990s-2000s. Property of a Surrey gentleman. The snake, symbol of Asklepios, god of health and medicine, was often embossed and represented on medical instruments and tools. In the Mainz Meum there is a medicine box on the lid of which is inlaid a snake coiled round a tree, the tree and the snake’s body being outlined in copper and the snake’s head in silver. The serpent is sometimes represented on medical implements. A uterine dilator from Pompeii is also decorated with it. A probe surmounted by a double serpent (caduce form) was found in the Roman Hospital at Baden.