Design and manufacturing aspects of a vaginal speculum of antiquity,as investigated by computer tomographies

This paper presents the investigation of a vaginal speculum, found during excavations in Dion, Greece, by means of computer tomographies. Based on this technique, the solid geometry of the structural elements of this medical instrument was reconstructed and a simulation of its operating mechanism was further conducted. Additionally important design and manufacturing data related to the vaginal speculum mechanism and its parts were obtained. The analysis provides various significant insights and further documents utilization of high level technical mechanical engineering procedures and technological sophistication in the Hellenic antiquity period.     

An Investigation of Ceramic Forming Method Using Reverse Engineering Techniques: The Case of Oinochoai from Dion, Macedonia, Greece

A method for investigating the forming technique of ancient ceramic vessels is presented. The recording, analysis, and comparison of the vessels' metrical properties by means of computer tomography, three-dimensional laser scanning, and solid-modeling software enables the identification of the applied manufacturing methods. A finite elements method-based simulation of the developed deformations during the vessels' manufacture offers significant insight into the applied shaping procedures. By making possible the exact recording of both the internal and external form of the vessels as well as the simulation of the forming procedure, the method represents a marked improvement to hitherto applied methods based on radiography. The method is applied on two early iron age ceramic jugs (oinochoai) found as offerings in tombs in excavations in Dion, Greece.