Terracotta votive statuette from Etruria, 4th century At this time, Etruscans with physical ailments often dedicated terracotta models of their afflicted body part to a deity in the hopes of getting better. This statuette shows a male torso with exposed internal organs, dedicated by someone who is perhaps suffering from stomach problems. Such knowledge of internal anatomy may have been gained through limited surgery, or from seeing mortally wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

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Size: 2598px × 3890px
Location:
Photo credit: © Science History Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: abdomen, affliction, anatomy, ancient, archeology, art, artifact, dedication, dedicatory, disease, etruria, etruscan, healing, history, intestinal, intestines, male, medical, medicine, model, object, religion, statue, statuette, terracotta, torso, votive