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Anatomical votive offering in form
of an eye. Frontally molded and reworked with the modeling tool.
The Etruscans knew a great variety of votive terracottas, which they placed in
their temples as thanksgiving offerings or wishes for healing.
Some of the votive eyes found appeared with eyelids and the periocular tissue,
while others just showed the eyeball. The first may have referred to disorders
like conjunctivitis, the other to myopia and cataracts.
One-eyed owner Moshe Dayan certainly had a special affinity for this piece.
For a closely related eye, cf. reg. no. 1865,1118.132 in the British Museum
database.
Intact and fine. With good detail and light mineral deposits.
L. 3.9 cm (1.5 in)
Ex collection of Moshe Dayan (1915-1981), Israel. Conveyed directly to his
friend Ervin Harvith in 1973.
500 USD |
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Literature: Steven M. Oberhelman. "Anatomical Votive Reliefs as Evidence for
Specialization at Healing Sanctuaries in the Ancient Mediterranean World", pp.
47-62 in: Athens Journal of Health, Vol. 1, Issue 1, March 2014.
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