Ex-votos are stored in the National Roman Museum located in the old Baths of Diocletian in Rome (Via Enrico de Nicola, 79) and they have connection with the cult of Asclepius, since the old Temple of Asclepius is located in the Tiber Island. Ex-voto is a votive offering to a divinity. Some of the votive objects found in the Tiber river near the Tiber Island have a direct connection with the divinities to which they were offered to obtain health and fertility.
(More information can be found at the site Baths of Diocletian, National Roman Museum).
In the following picture can be seen the showcase with some votive objects, representing both the part of the body treated and heads and statuettes (rarer, since more costly), symbolizing the offerer or devotee.
In particular, the ex-votos linked with the cult of Asclepius are: a hand, a foot, a uterus, innards, a head of a man, a head of a woman and a family.
A hand
A foot
A uterus
Innards
A head of man
A head of woman
A Family: man, woman and their baby
In the following picture can be seen the showcase (first named, but on the opposite side) where are stored some inscriptions on marble. They are gifts offered to Asclepius.
The following was inscribed; “Aescolapio donom dat lvbens merito Popvlicio”
The following was inscribed; “Aiscolapio dono… L. Albanivs ici dedi…”
- Photos and main text by Adriana Ingravalle and Teresa Prinzivalli (January 2015)
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Bibliography:
- Caporilli Maurizio, Pichini Tommaso, Lucianetti Arnaldo, Bedoni Francesca, De Paoli Marco, L’Isola della Salute. L’isola Tiberina dall’antichità ai nostri giorni, Pool Grafica Editrice, Roma 1996, p.89