ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the evidence for open bust votives, as well as highlighting the extent to which the interpretations placed on these objects must be connected with the circumstances of their discovery and collection. Terracotta votives, especially anatomical ex-votos, have long been known and are attested fairly early in several archaeological collections. Apart from votive uteri, various models of which were found over a fairly wide area very few depictions of internal organs are attested at that time. Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several European doctors compiled collections of terracotta votive offerings or added archaeological artefacts to collections devoted to the history of medicine. Doctors' interest in anatomical terracotta votives stemmed first and foremost from personal inclination but can also be interpreted from a sociological perspective. In addition to the small votive busts to which chapter have just referred large female, and perhaps also male, busts are attested wearing tunics on which the anatomical plaques stand out.