The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK, holds a Roman multitool that dates back to the 3rd Century C.E. When unfolded, it has a fork, spatula, pick, spike, and knife blade.
Link | Photo: Fitzwilliam Museum
Edward
It is news to me that the Romans used forks for eating. As far as I know (along with a small bit of Internet research) forks were only used by the Romans for carving and had two blades.
Since this is what it is, perhaps it has the wrong date and/or cultural attribution.
AlexMMR
I’m fairly certain the fork wasn’t introduced until around the 1600′s. And it took a long time to be accepted as a tool for eating. The church was vehemently opposed to its use claiming that God already provided us with the best tools for eating (our hands) and to imply that a fork was an improvement was akin to blasphemy.
Prairie Dog
Hmm, ok, according to Wiki, forks are referenced in the old Testament, were used by the ancient Greeks AND that the Romans used them. Furthermore that there were many examples of Roman forks to be found. A casual search yielded a Roman fork that was awfully small if it was just for serving. So unless there is a rather widespread conspiracy sponsored by the Pro-Forks-For-Romans-League, I think a travel fork might be something a Roman might actually have.
thaxted
That is a riggers knife and marlin spike if ever I saw one. This was a Roman sailors rigging tool. Even the spoon could be used as a Fido.
Edward
No question about neat. However, please allow me to correct myself. Forks have tines, not blades.
Brycemeister
That’s the coolest thing I’ve e’er clapped eyes upon! Is it too late to get one?
Oh wait, too late it is…
Jeremy
Too late. I think not.
The photos give enough detail for a skilled craftsman/smith to make one. Apply at your nearest Reenactor cutlery supplier
fused
It’s a cool item for sure.
@alexMMR, blasphemy? it was blast for me, was it a blast for you too?
RDW
‘The photos give enough detail for a skilled craftsman/smith to make one. Apply at your nearest Reenactor cutlery supplier’
They’re ahead of us:
Gauldar
@Johnny Cat
Might be difficult considering they didn’t have corn. I suppose it could be made a flatbread, and allow you to get a nice mouthful of delicious garum. Mmm, fermented fish pasty goodness!
Bill Rowe
does anyone else smell shenanigans? Is there any other evidence of folding tools from the third century?
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