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Ex-Voto is formally linked to three religions in this atlas: Ancient Greek Religion, Christianity and Roman Religion. All three links are bare. Its own description states the essential exchange plainly: "an offering made in fulfillment of a vow... given to a deity or saint after a prayer has been answered."

One Practice Across Two Ancient Religions and Into a Living One

The description does not describe three separate customs; it describes one continuous class of object crossing a religious transition: "The class runs from the terracotta arms, legs and eyes left at ancient Mediterranean healing sanctuaries to the painted tin panels of Mexican shrines and the silver plaques hung by Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims today." The two ancient religions on this list, Greek and Roman, supply the terracotta anatomical offerings at healing sanctuaries; Christianity supplies the practice's living continuation.

A Public Receipt for a Private Bargain

The description names what stays constant across every form the object takes: "Whatever its form, an ex-voto is a public receipt for a private bargain, left where other petitioners will see it." A terracotta leg at a Greek sanctuary, a Mexican tin panel and a Catholic silver plaque are different materials serving the identical social function, evidence of an answered prayer displayed for the next petitioner to see.

Where To Read More

• Ex-VotoVotive ObjectsThe class itself; three religions counted, one continuous practice surviving a religious transition
• Ancient Greek ReligionPolytheistic (Historical)Terracotta arms, legs and eyes left at ancient Mediterranean healing sanctuaries
• Roman ReligionPolytheistic (Historical)The other ancient religion supplying the terracotta anatomical-offering tradition
• ChristianityAbrahamic (Monotheistic)The living continuation: Mexican tin panels and Catholic and Orthodox silver plaques today