- chapter 59: Science as art –
Although the paint is usually poorly preserved, it is known that the anatomical
votives (as also statues and heads) were painted. The repertoire of colors includes above
all a strong reddish brown (for skin, but also for internal organs), and black (for hair or
drawing of details), but also yellow and white. Very rarely, a red or white slip has survived
as the base coat for paint.^14
Since the paint was applied before fi ring in the kiln, we can hardly assume that the
paint was applied according to the wishes of individual buyers. In any case we cannot
exclude the fact that certain areas of a donor’s votive were highlighted in color according
to they buyer’s directions. Since such labeling must be done after fi ring, because of the
transience of certain colors, we should not expect that anything has survived of this.
Finds of molds show that anatomical votives were made in the immediate vicinity of
the shrines and sold to visitors to the cult places.^15 Because formal characteristics allow
the identifi cation of local workshop groups, the anatomical votives of the great Etruscan
cities may be divided into different regional styles.
DATINGAnatomical votive models in terracotta can hardly be exactly dated – except for complete
votive statues or heads, whose underlying prototypes may be analyzed stylistically to
some extent. This is partly because of low artistic aspirations and because the strong
abstraction of the moldmade body parts makes a stylistic dating unlikely,^16 and also
because only the design of the prototype can be chronologically classifi ed. But since the
mold was used over a long period of time or certain types have been produced over several
generations by making new molds from extant models, an art-historical sort of dating
cannot be achieved. Since votive inscriptions as a rule are lacking, the objects found in
the same votive deposits are of utmost importance – insofar as they are chronologically
informative. This consists mainly of (fi ne) pottery and coins. One of the main diffi culties
here is again the fact that any such favissae, bothroi (or stipi)^17 are usually secondary
deposits, so that objects can only be linked to a broad time period. This usually covers
the second half of the fourth century to the end of the second century bc.
SITESAnatomical votives are found exclusively as votive offerings in sanctuaries.^18 Some 300
corresponding sites are known in the Etrusco-Italic region.^19 They range from the Arno
in the north, to the east and south through the Etruscan core area bounded by the Tiber
and to the Faliscan territory as well as to the south comprising Latium and Campania
(down to Cales and Lucera). Geographically, a strong concentration may be recognized
in southern Etruria and northern Latium: the most signifi cant fi nds were made in the
following places: Caere, Pyrgi, Tarquinia, Gravisca, Canino (Tessenano), Veii, Vulci (in
Etruria), Falerii, Narce (Faliscan area), Fregellae, Gabii, Lavinium, Nemi, Ponte di Nona,
Praeneste, Rome (in Latium), Cales and Lucera (in Campania).^20 The different kinds of
sanctuaries are represented here – urban, rural, inland and coastal – thus encompass the
entire known range of private and public cults.^21
Unlike Greece, where stone carved anatomical votives are confi ned to the shrines of very
few gods and those in terracotta were given exclusively in the Asklepieion of Corinth,^22 in
the Etrusco-Italic region practically all the deities worshipped were offered such votives.^23