Votive left leg

Made:
100 BCE-500CE in Roman Empire
Votive left leg Votive left leg

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

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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

Votive left leg, bronze, Roman(?), 100BC-500

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.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A608647
Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Measurements:
overall: 178 mm x 39 mm x 87 mm, .44 kg
type:
votive leg
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust