Description
| ITEM | Anatomical votive model of a head |
| MATERIAL | Terracotta |
| CULTURE | Etruscan |
| PERIOD | 5th – 4th Century B.C |
| DIMENSIONS | 240 mm x 165 mm x 130 mm |
| CONDITION | Good condition. Includes Thermoluminescence test by QED Laboratory |
| PROVENANCE | Ex Belgian private collection, Ex Spanish antiquities dealer (2022), Ex Belgian private collection, Brussels |
Etruscan votive models, particularly anatomical offerings and effigies, are fascinating artifacts that reveal much about the religious practices and medical concerns of ancient Etruria, especially between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE. These votives were typically deposited in sanctuaries and sacred springs as acts of devotion or supplication to the gods, often in the hope of healing a specific ailment or in thanks for divine intervention. Crafted from terracotta, bronze, or occasionally stone, these models replicate human body parts—eyes, limbs, internal organs, breasts, genitalia—and are often found in large numbers at healing sanctuaries associated with deities like Menrva (Minerva) or Aplu (Apollo).
The anatomical votives represent a symbolic language of health and bodily integrity. For example, a votive eye might be offered in hopes of curing blindness or infection, while a model uterus could be linked to fertility concerns. Their realism varies: some are stylized and schematic, while others are surprisingly naturalistic, possibly even individualized. These offerings served a dual role: they were both ritual acts and communicative gestures, voicing the suppliant’s needs in a tangible, visible way. Some scholars have proposed that these votives may also reflect early understandings of anatomy and pathology in the Etruscan world, hinting at empirical observation rooted in experience, if not systematic medical science.
In addition to anatomical models, votive heads and full-figure statues were also common, often life-sized or larger. These heads, usually depicting serene or pious expressions, might represent the donor themselves or serve as idealized images of the human devotee in relation to the divine.
