21st Century Skills Innovation Library: Artificial Limbs

Can you imagine cutting off your own foot? That is what the ancient prophet Hegesistratus did nearly 2,500 years ago when he was captured by his enemies. They chained his ankle and threatened to kill him. Hegesistratus escaped by cutting off his own foot and hobbling away. He replaced the foot with a wooden one, but his freedom was short-lived. He was soon recaptured and beheaded.
Hegesistratus is just an early example of people who used artificial limbs, or prostheses. The artificial foot of Hegesistratus and the hand of Sergius were primitive. Until the 1500s, people who survived the loss of a limb had few options. They strapped on wooden pegs to replace missing legs or hooks to replace missing hands.