Marble plaque showing parturition scene, Ostia, Italy, 400 BCE-300 CE

Made:
400 BCE-300 CE in Ostia Antica
This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene Marble plaque showing parturition scene, Roman, from Ostia

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Marble plaque showing parturition scene, Roman, from Ostia
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Marble plaque showing parturition scene, Roman, from Ostia, Italy

This marble plaque depicts a ‘parturition’, or birthing scene. Such scenes eased the fears of expectant mothers by depicting positive birthing images. During this time, midwives were female. Men were not present at births unless a doctor was required in the case of a high status mother. Here, a woman reclines on a couch covered in drapes, attended by three women. They are dressed in classical Roman robes and one is holding the baby. The plaque was excavated at Ostia, Italy.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A129245
Materials:
marble
Measurements:
overall: 250 mm x 340 mm x 63 mm, 10.62 kg
type:
relief
credit:
Racchi