Roman Oculists' Stamp

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Staying healthy in Pontes, Roman Staines – a prized possession for oculists everywhere. This small stone stamp measures 25.5 x 14.5 x 8 mm and played a vital role in marking collyria, sticks of soft eye medicine that were highly valued by the medical community. To use these medicated sticks, shavings would be mixed with a liquid to create a soothing treatment for the eyes. The unique lettering on each end is 'retrograde', meaning it can be read when stamped into the stone. This particular stamp bears the markings 'SENI LENE' and 'SENI NARD'. According to Ralph Jackson, SENI signifies the oculist's name, while LENE indicates that this medicine was designed for soothing conjunctivitis, and NARD refers to nardinum, a key ingredient derived from the highly prized nard oil. Interestingly, nard oil was worth more than its weight in gold and was traded extensively throughout the empire, with the finest quality oil coming from the foothills of the Himalayas. In Roman Staines, an eye doctor is utilizing this precious resource to provide top-notch care for their patients.