Here’s a rare look at a Roman Army Knife from 200AD, which is touted as the first Swiss Army Knife. It contains a spoon, fork, retractable spike, spatula and a small toothpick. Some say that the spatula was used as a poking tool to get cooking sauce out of narrow-necked bottles. Continue reading for another picture and more information.
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 artefacts 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 traveller, who will have had the item custom made. A spokesman said: ‘This was probably made between AD 200 and AD 300, when the Roman empire was a great imperial power.
