Votive carving of hair

Made:
200BCE-400CE in Italy
Votive carving of hair Votive carving of hair Votive carving of hair

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group Collections
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Votive hair, carved from marble, probably Roman, 200BC-400AD. Hung in temple or shrine to promote growth of hair on bald pate.

Votive offerings are those left in sacred places to ask for, or express gratitude for, healing. They are often made in the shape of the affected body part. Some are bespoke pieces, cast in expensive metals such as bronze. Others are mass-produced from cheaper materials such as terracotta and wax. Although it originated in earlier cultures, the phenomenon thrived in Ancient Roman Italy between 400 and 100 BC. It persists today in many faiths, including Christianity and Hinduism. This marble example would likely have been especially commissioned, possibly by an individual concerned about losing their hair.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A634586
Materials:
marble
Measurements:
overall: 69 mm x 174 mm x 184 mm, 2.122 kg
type:
votive hair
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust