2,000 Year-Old Roman Multi-Tool (Cool-someone was thinking)

What have the Romans ever done for us? Well, it turns out that back somewhere between A.D 201- 300, a clever Roman. probably named MacGyvericus, invented the multi-tool. And not just some weird, old-fashioned multi-tool, either. MacGyvericus’ tool is startlingly similar to the modern Swiss Army Knife, now part of the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/996981dbb132.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4106fc3b1d64.jpg[/atsimg]

Like the common Swiss tool, the Roman version has a lot of foldaway implements stowed inside: A knife, spike, pick, fork and a spatula. Unlike the modern-day equivalent, the Roman Army Knife has a useful spoon on the end, making it likely that this iron and silver artifact, found in somewhere in the Mediterranean countries, was meant for eating with.

Source: www.wired.com...

Pretty neat. Funny take in the story with the connection to McGuyver!

Just goes to show you that us humans of today had the same basic needs of the humans back them. And came up with common solutions. No nail clipper or file there-that I can see. You would think they would have something like that to keep the nails in proper order etc.

As aluded to in the article, the Romans must have had these all over their empire. This is the only one I ever heard about. Going now to look for some more or similar. If I don't find anything else... Maybe evidence of a time travelers--. JUST SAYING.... lol

I have always been facinated with the Roman Armies and what they took with them in their travels and what was utilzed/adopted by the peoples in the newly concured areas by the Romans.

This is actually interesting. We never seem to talk abou the Day to Day lives and/or nessessities when we discuss the past peoples. Which is actually the wrong way to look at them-IMO. I think we need to know how they carried out the daily stuff to understand how they worked as a whole society etc. Thougths?

LOL
That is freaking sweet.
I love seeing stuff like this, because it really reaffirms we haven't changed at all.

S/F

Although not surprising, this is pretty cool to actually see one of these!

I agree when it comes to past civilisations, too much emphasis is placed on major events. Most people ignore day-to-day events. Here's an interesting factoid for you:

In Rome, as most people lived in appartments without stoves or ovens, people ate a lot of take-out food. The most popular consisted of taking ground beef, mixing it with pine nuts, olive oil, herbs and spices. Flattening it out into a patty. Once cooked, this was served between two pieces of bread with several seasonings (customers chose their seasonings)...

reply to post by anon72

Nice one! S&F for you.

That's a very interesting gadget, and the additional pictures on the Fitzwilliam Museum's website give an even better idea of how it was utilized. Here's a linky to the museum's page.

This device certainly kills off the idea that the fork was invented much later...

As to your thoughts on the need to understand the more "mundane" aspects of a culture's everyday existence, I couldn't agree more. There are still so many things to learn about the Romans and other ancient cultures and it's a fascinating process to research such things.

(NOTE to the OP: I have sent you a U2U.)


Best regards,

Mike

That is so freaking cool! Loving it!

My daughter just turned in her "Roman Artifact" for a history class project. She build some roman necklaces. Wish I had spotted this last week.. It would have bee a way cooler project...lol

Originally posted by ajmusicmedia

. . .

In Rome, as most people lived in appartments without stoves or ovens, people ate a lot of take-out food. The most popular consisted of taking ground beef, mixing it with pine nuts, olive oil, herbs and spices. Flattening it out into a patty. Once cooked, this was served between two pieces of bread with several seasonings (customers chose their seasonings)...

I love learning about day to day stuff from history. It is so much cooler than the big monumental stuff you read in text books.

Where did you learn this from?

Do you have any more?

reply to post by JustMike


Thank you for the great link. Got the U2U-replied.

Glad you liked the info.

Take care!

reply to post by anon72

Glad to be of assistance....

Thought you and other members might be interested to know that some other examples of this Roman multi-tool do exist. I found a site where members discuss them in some detail and they also include photographs. However, because of possible copyright concerns (as some of the images were taken by members there) I'd rather not copy them and post them direct. Instead I'll link to their site, which is called roman army talk and you can all take a look there. (Scroll down the page about 1/3 of the way to get to the images.)

I'm a bit pushed for time but if anyone wants to do "link to external image" coding for some of the pics there, I think that would be okay from the point of view of ATS T&C's (provided we attribute correctly). A mod could advise if there are any doubts.

Best regards,
Mike

reply to post by JustMike


Wow, thanks. I will check it out later. Can't know.

I think I have found a new topic to study on.

Thanks!!

I remember hearing that the Romans didn't keep dogs,
and for home security they used Geese.
The goose is very territorial, loud,
and will bite. All the way up
to the 80's the term 'goose'
also meant to pinch ones'
skin very hard.


David Grouchy

That is amazing. It makes me wonder what else has fallen off the radar over the years as well. Ingenuity at its finest. That was a great find and thanks for sharing.

here is another earlier civilisations finest tech....its from Greece

www.world-mysteries.com...

I realise this is very old news to most, (no pun itended) but it still boggles the mind what they have come up with long ago.Computer is just a name for a computing device ....neh?
This one had no batteries to die on you, was entirely safe to use in the bathtub, and managed to compute all the relative positions of the known planets, moon and i think some stars.......

so beautiful that would be helpful today. any links of people who make em now adays?

reply to post by thetruedank


I assume you don't mean a Swiss Army knife type of thing? Or a knock off. That is about the closest I can think of that is making similar today.

Sorry if I got what you meant, wrong.