Syphilis depicted by the Greek moulages: a picture of skin manifestations in former times.

A great part of the medical wax moulages produced in the beginning of the last century depicts the various clinical signs of syphilis. Based on the study of a large Greek moulage collection, the different stages of syphilis are described. Moulages may still have the original scope as teaching objects, presenting clinical manifestations seldom seen to day and thus more likely of being overseen by the clinicians.