Anatomical ex-votos represent a very common category of offerings in places of worship throughout the ancient Mediterranean, up to Roman Gaul. These are partial reproductions of the human body (usually sick parts) that were consecrated to healing deities, including Asclepius and many others: in fact, within the ancient Pantheon, the "healthy function" could be exercised by multiple divinities. Offering such anatomical ex-votos was a very common practice in ancient times: usually, they were deposited in a sanctuary following a vow or as a token of thanks for a healing.
Anatomical terracotta ex-voto in the shape of a face - it is thought that offerings in the shape of a face, devoid of any pathological aspect, were placed at the sanctuary to ask for relief from the invoked deity from headaches or migraines.
Title: Anatomical ex voto
Author: Anonymous
Date:
Technique:
Displayed in: Museum of the History of Medicine of Rome
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