Votive mask of human face (excluding chin)
- Made:
- 200 BCE - 200 CE in Italy
Votive mask of human face (excluding chin), terracotta, Etrusco-Roman, 200BC-200AD
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:
- A636846
- Materials:
- terracotta
- Measurements:
-
overall: 140 mm x 117 mm x 67 mm, .38 kg
- type:
- votive face
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
