ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses ample ancient literary, documentary and archaeological evidence for the votive offering of hair cut straight from the dedicant's head, there is somewhat less evidence for the votive offering of nails and teeth. However, 'real' hair was not the only type of hair that was dedicated as an ex-voto in ancient Greek and Roman sanctuaries, temples and shrines. Male votive heads from Etruria are generally depicted bareheaded whereas those from Rome and Latium are generally depicted with velum perhaps a reflection of differing religious practices in these different regions. Female votive heads are considerably more varied due to the variety of hairstyles and hair coverings that could be worn by Greek and Roman girls and women depending on their stage of life. Thus a votive head of a young freeborn girl would depict her with her hair braided and tied with a vitta.
