- Valetudinarium means ‘Hospital’ in Latin and these were located inside Legionary Fortresses of the Roman Empire.
The Fortress at Neuss
- The first Valetudinarium was located in Novaesium, Neuss, in Germany.
- It is at the centre of the Fort, close beside the Granaries and near the side of the Latera Praetorii, the Commandant’s Headquarters building.
- In the building were found a collection of surgical and toilet instruments.
- For this reason, it has been assumed that the remains of similar buildings located in other forts across the Roman Empire, must also be Valetudinaria (Hospitals).
The Fortress at Xanten
- Xanten Archeological Park in Germany is Europe’s largest open air museum located on the site of the Roman Legionary Fortress of Castra Vetera and the town of Colonia Ulpia Traiana.
- The Fort holds a Roman Military Hospital built to house 6-8 per cent of the Legion’s soldiers.
Medical Staff
- The Medicus (plural Medici), were soldiers exempted from other duties, so that they could look after the sick and wounded.
- The Medicus was often Greek.
Dioscorides: (64 CE)
- He was an army Physician during the reign of Nero (54-68 CE).
- De Materia Medica
- ‘Regarding Medical Materials’. Published in 64 CE, this Encyclopedia is in 5 volumes. It contained Herbal remedies based on 600 Plants.
Valetudianrium in Novaesium, Neuss