ROMAN BRONZE VOTIVE LEFT FOOT, ROMAN

Circa 100-200 AD. A bronze votive figure of a foot which has been beautifully decorated with incised decoration representing the feet and sandals. Votive offerings were made at the temple of a healing god such as Asklepios, the Greco-Roman god of healing and medicine. They were offered in the hope of receiving a cure or as thanks for one. Votives were made in the shape of the affected or cured body part, in this case a person’s left foot. It has a hole so it can be hung up on a wall. The use of bronze may indicate a wealthy owner as most votives were made from terracotta. For similar see the Science Museum Group no. A28797.Size: L:80mm / W:30mm ; 86gProvenance: Property of a UK Ancient Art Gallery; formerly with Lautenberg collection, NJ., acquired 1960s, to previous owner by descent.