Glossary Religion and cult
Votive
Also called: ex-voto, votive offering
An object given to a god in fulfilment of a vow or in hope of favour, and left in a sanctuary as the god's property.
Cypriot sanctuaries of the Iron Age filled up with votives: terracotta figurines, limestone statues and heads, model chariots, jewellery, pottery and inscribed bases. Once given, a votive belonged to the god, so when a sanctuary became crowded the older offerings were buried inside the sacred area. See Archaic limestone statues. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods worshippers also dedicated anatomical ex-votos, models of an eye, an ear or another part of the body in need of healing.
Related terms
- Votary
A worshipper shown in a statue or figurine, usually dedicated in a sanctuary to stand before the deity on the donor's behalf.
- Favissa
A pit dug in or near a sanctuary to bury old or broken votives, which remained the god's property and could not be thrown away.
- Temenos
The sacred area of a sanctuary, marked off by a wall or boundary, inside which the altar, offerings and any cult buildings stood.
Where it appears
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