Votive offering in the shape of lips
- Made:
- 200 BCE-100 CE in Roman Empire
Votive lips, bronze, Roman, 200BC-100AD
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 these bronze lips. 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:
- A114895
- Materials:
- bronze
- Measurements:
-
overall: 30 mm x 45 mm x 25 mm, .04 kg
- type:
- votive face
- credit:
- Glendining
