Votive upper face and eyes
- Made:
- 200 BCE - 200 CE in Rome
Votive face, bronze, 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 this bronze representation of the upper face. 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:
- A634924
- Materials:
- copper alloy and complete
- Measurements:
-
overall: 34 mm x 47 mm x 17 mm, .04 kg
- type:
- votive face
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
