title: [Life as it was: the Roman midwife].
abstract: This article offers an example of historical 'faction' by using data and facts which are attested in Greek and Roman medical literature. Inscriptions and archaeological finds are used to create a fictional story. It is an attempt to portray an empathic picture of vital issues in Roman society such as the social position of midwives, gynaecological knowledge, death in childbed, and the harsh reality of infant mortality.
authors.affiliation: Universiteit Antwerpen, Departement Geschiedenis, Antwerpen, België.
authors.forename: Chr
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laes
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000266:history*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008091:Literature / Q000266:history; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D008880:Midwifery / Q000266:history*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018644:Roman World / Q000266:history; D012613:Sculpture / Q000266:history