Roman Votive Eye , Ear , Nose, Mouth

Details

Archaeologists and collectors have found votive offerings in the form of human body parts in their thousands across the ancient world. Greek and Roman supplicants left these ritual objects at healing sanctuaries and religious site as offering to the gods. One presumption is that petitioners left these offerings in the hopes of conjuring divine intervention during instances of illness, injury and disease. Some researchers think that they may have been left as thanks after the event to honour the gods whose intervention was gratefully received.  

The effectiveness of these offerings is unknown, but their popularity as a form of health care is undeniable. I prefer to rely on the hard-working folks of the NHS. 

These votives are sold individually and depict an eye, an ear, a nose and a mouth.

 Materials

Terracotta

Dimensions

Approx. 155 mm high, 20 mm depth

Production

As with all our Museum Quality Replicas, we have made this pot, as the original would have been, entirely by hand from natural clay and using replicas of the types of tool that the ancient makers would have used. As each pot varies, you may not receive the same one as in the image, but you can be sure that it will be one of a kind due to the variations caused by the firing process. 

Postage

All items are sent using a second class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first class, please contact me for a quote. Many Thanks