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· Anatomical votive
offerings
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| Anatomical votive offerings |
Health was the biggest and most valuable asset in ancient society. As in modern times, it was the main concern and main subject of prayers. The terracotta votive offerings representing various body parts or internal organs seem to refer to the area of sanatio, or health and healing. The most numerous offerings, representing limbs, especially hands and feet, may also have been generic references to prayer or petitions for safe journeys, moves or other activities already undertaken or to be undertaken. The feet in particular seem to indicate this. They are always shod in a kind of open sandal, as if ready to begin a journey.
A particular category of votive offerings depicting genital organs, predominantly male and more rarely female, uteruses and breasts, can be related specially to reproduction and fertility. |
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