Swanky Roman Army Knife Beats Swiss By 1,800 Years
It might not have the pretty red handle or the Swiss Cross, but this Roman army knife did the trick for one rich traveler at the height of the empire.
The silver gadget included a knife, spoon, fork, spatula, a toothpick and a retractable spike — thought to be used to harvest yummy snails from their shell.
The 3in x 6in (8cm x 15cm) knife was excavated from the Mediterranean area more than 20 years ago and was obtained by the museum in 1991.
The unique item is among dozens of artifacts exhibited in a newly refurbished Greek and Roman antiquities gallery at the Fitzwilliam Museum, in Cambridge.
Experts believe it may have been carried by a wealthy traveler, who will have had the item custom made.
It’s certainly not as easy to carry as a keychain knife, but it looks like it would do the trick — I’ll take mine with a spork.
[Via Daily Mail]
