Anatomic Votive Offerings

myminifactory

In Antiquity, votive offerings in the shape of human body parts or organs were offered to the gods at all times and in all religions. By this, the deity either was asked for healing from sickness or infertility or it was thanked after healing had occurred. The god of healing Asclepius was the most important but not the only recipient. Anatomic votive offerings made out of clay - in addition to heads, hands and feet also genitalia - are characteristic, of central Italy in late classical and Hellenistic times. Phalli made out of tuff are rather rare and could be interpreted as offerings to Dionysus/Bacchus within an erotic context. Provenance - probably central Italy (Etruria, Latium)