Everything about Votive Offering totally explained
A
votive deposit or
votive offering is an object left in a
sacred place for
ritual purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally made in order to gain favour with
supernatural forces. Votive offerings have been described in historical Roman era and Greek sources, although similar acts continue into the present day, for example the modern day practice of tossing coins into a
wishing well or fountain.
Ancient offerings
In
Europe votive deposits date to the
Neolithic, with polished
axe hoards, reaching a peak in the late
Bronze Age. High status
artifacts such as
swords and
spearheads were apparently buried or more commonly cast into bodies of water or peat
bogs, whence they couldn't possibly have been recovered. Often all the objects in a ritual hoard are broken, 'killing' the objects to put them even further beyond utilitarian use before deposition. The purposeful discarding of valuable items such as
swords and
spearheads is thought to have therefore have had ritual overtones. The items have since been found in rivers, lakes and former wet-places (now drained by modern agriculture) by metal-detectorists, members of the public and archaeologists.
In
Mesoamerica, votive deposits have been recovered from the
Olmec site of
El Manati (dated to 1600-1200 BC) and the
Maya Sacred Cenote at
Chichen Itza (850-1550 AD).
In
archaeology, votive deposits differ from
hoards in that although they may contain similar items, votive deposits were not intended for later recovery.
Curse tablets
A
curse tablet or
defixio is a small sheet of tin or lead on which a message wishing misfortune upon someone else was inscribed. The tablet was subsequently rolled up and thrown into a well or spring. Hundreds of such tablets have been recovered from places such as
Aquae Sulis, a Roman bath in England.
Judaism
The use of votive offerings are found in the
Tanakh. The
Torah makes provision for "free-will offerings" which may be made by any individual. When
Solomon built his temple he provided a number of furnishings above and beyond what had been commanded to
Moses on
Mount Sinai (see
Temple of Solomon).
Oral tradition in
Rabbinic Judaism also speaks of a huge golden grape vine which adorned the outside of the
Temple in Jerusalem before its destruction by the Romans.
Christianity
The tradition of votive offerings has been carried into Christianity in both the East and the West.
Eastern Christianity
According to
Sacred Tradition, after
Constantine the Great's conversion and subsequent victory at the
Battle of the Milvian Bridge, he donated one of the crosses he carried in battle to the Church. This cross is reputed to be preserved on
Mount Athos.
One of the most famous
Orthodox votive offerings is that by
St. John Damascene. According to
tradition, while he was serving as
Vizier to the
Calif, he was falsely accused of treachery and his hand was cut off. Upon praying in front of an
icon of the
Theotokos his hand was
miraculously restored. In thanksgiving he'd a silver replica of his hand fasioned and attached it to the icon (
see image at left). This icon is preserved at
Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos.
Orthodox Christians continue to make votive offerings to this day, often in the form of
tamata, metal plaques symbolizing the subject of their
prayers. Other offerings include,
candles,
prosphora, wine, oil, or
incense. In addition, many will leave something of personal value, such as jewelry, a
pectoral cross or
military decoration as a sign of devotion.
Western Christianity
In the
Roman Catholic Church offerings were made either to fulfill a
vow made to God for deliverance, or a thing left to a Church in gratitude for some favor that was granted. Today votives can be lit candles, or offered flowers, statues, vestments, and of course donations.
Ancient examples include:
Further Information
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