The Latin American Herald Tribune is reporting that an archaeologist working near Leon (Spain) has found a Roman lamp depicting a gynecological examination.

Dixit Angel Morillo, inter alia:

... "an exceptional piece that illustrates the presence of doctors in the city"

... "appears a very slender woman, possibly affected by a serious illness, like cancer, and a doctor who is performing a gynecological exam with a vaginal speculum."

"We know that during that period there were vaginal speculums, which are practically the same as the ones we have (now), but ... representations of them have come down (to us) on very few occasions and never - so far - in the case of a lamp."

No photos, alas, but the lamp is said to be 'in private hands' but is headed for a museum.


Ancient Roman Lamp Shows Gynecological Exam (Latin American Herald Tribune)


Tip o' the Saturnalian pileus to Domingo Vallejo Sanz who sends in additional coverage (which notes the lamp was found a couple of years ago), including a photo (of sorts):

Aparece en León la única lucerna del mundo con una escena ginecológica (Terrae Antiquae)