Ancient Roman Terracotta Anatomical Votive, Left Foot. 

Provenance: Arte Primitivo, New York City. 

Size: 6 X 2 3/4 X 3 1/2 in. 

#3954 . 

A votive offering or votive deposit is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally made to gain favor with supernatural forces. While some offerings were apparently made in anticipation of the achievement of a particular wish, in Western cultures from which documentary evidence survives it was more typical to wait until the wish had been fulfilled before making the offering, for which the more specific term ex-voto may be used. Other offerings were very likely regarded just as gifts to the deity, not linked to any particular need. In Buddhism, votive offering such as construction of stupas was a prevalent practice in Ancient India, an example of which can be observed in the ruins of the ancient Vikramshila University and other contemporary structures. Votive offerings have been described in historical Roman era and Greek sources, where they worked heavily with terracotta to form objects as votives that sometimes doubled as decorations for temples, although similar acts continue into the present day. Traditional Catholic culture continues to include votive offerings, and the modern-day practice of tossing coins into a wishing well or fountain is descended from votive practices. No matter the era, concept, or circumstance, votive offerings serve as an important expression of the personal relationship between certain peoples and their gods and goddesses.