Votive female head, back not modelled, terracotta, possibly Italian, Roman or Etruscan, 200BCE-100CE

Votive offerings were presented to a god, either in the hope of a cure or as thanks for one. The offerings were made from marble, bronze or terracotta in the shape of the afflicted body part. This terracotta votive shows a female head – the person making the offering may have had chronic headaches. Usually, it is difficult to tell what ailment the person was experiencing or how old they were.