Man and Animal in Antiquity: Votive Figures in Central Italy from the 4Th To
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Man and animal in antiquity: votive fi gures in central Italy from the 4th to 1st centuries B.C. by Martin Söderlind Fig. 1. The diagram presents how often (% of number of sites) various kinds of fi gurative and anatomical votives appear together with animal fi gu- rines (horisontal hatches) and in all sites with anatomical votives (vertical hatches). Abstract: small statuettes and anatomical fi gures, i e representa- Human and animal votive fi gures in terracotta frequently appear tions of various internal or external parts of the human together in the same votive deposits in central Italy. Using a catalogue of ninetythree sites, the relationship between man and animal from body. The animal fi gures, on the other hand, are almost the 4th to the 1st centuries B.C. is being studied. The fi nd combinations exclusively represented by small scale fi gurines and, suggest that animal fi gurines formed an integrated part in the use of less frequently, by parts of animals in natural or almost human fi gures, such as heads, statues, statuettes and anatomicals, in natural size. Cows, pigs and horses are most commonly the towns and countryside alike. Apparently, man and animal were in 2 several respects given similar religious attention. Three main aspects represented, followed by wild boars and pigeons. are discussed: fertility, human/veterinary medicine and sacrifi ce. The Several other species are represented as well, albeit in religious concern for the procreation of man as well as for his livestock comparatively small numbers (Table 1). was given a similar kind of expression, as suggested by the votive In many cases, the moulds used for the manufacture imagery. Concerning health, the votive fi gures may partly refl ect an ancient past where the distinctions between human and veterinary of these terracottas are very worn. Concerning the hu- medicine far from always were clear. Regarding sacrifi ce, man and man heads and statuettes, the resulting lack of details animal formed opposite roles but possibly mutual objects of identifi ca- often makes it diffi cult to determine whether they are tion as well. male or female. As to the animal fi gures, the features that remain after a heavy wear may show the shape of a Various types of human and animal votive fi gures appear quadrupede, without leaving any details revealing what frequently in association with different kinds of cult particular kind of animal is being represented. places and sanctuaries in pre Roman and Roman central Together, these various kinds of terracottas form the Italy.1 Though existing already in the Archaic age, they typical content of the so called etrusco-latial-campanian become very common from the fourth to the fi rst centu- type of votive deposit.3 The type appears most frequently ries B.C. During this period, they are mostly mouldmade in the western part of central Italy, comprising Etruria, in terracotta but sometimes they appear in bronze as Latium and Campania. well. The human fi gures show a large variety, compris- In spite of the larger variations of forms of the hu- ing statues and heads of natural or almost natural size, man representations, compared with the animal ones, PECUS. Man and animal in antiquity. Proceedings of the conference at the Swedish Institute in Rome, September 9-12, 2002. Ed. Barbro Santillo Frizell (The Swedish Institute in Rome. Projects and Seminars, 1), Rome 2004. www.svenska-institutet-rom.org/pecus 278 Martin Söderlind Species Number of fi ndspots temple of Minerva Medica on the Esquiline (No. 60), a Bovine animals 44 hoove of a horse is rendered. Apart from feet, other parts may occasionally be represented, such as the head or the Pigs 20 tongue of a cow.7 Horses 18 Because of the many similarities, I intend to discuss Wild boars 15 further the relationship between man and animal as seen in this fi gurative votive repertory. As a point of departure Pigeons 11 will be used a catalogue of sites with animal fi gurines Sheep 8 appearing together with human fi gures in central Italy 8 Goats 8 (Table 2). A number of aspects will be considered, starting with the fi nd contexts where human and animal Dogs 7 fi gures have been found together. Is it possible to see Lions 6 any particular fi nd combinations when animal fi gurines Birds 4 are present which do not occur when they are absent? Elephants 2 Find context Deer 1 Owl 1 As already mentioned, animal fi gurines occur mostly Seal 1 together with other kinds of fi gurative terracottas. Still, apparently, it does not seem that they can be associ- Swan 1 ated with any particular kind of votive offering more Table 1. Frequency (number of sites) by which various species appear in the votive imagery, starting with the most frequent. The fi gures are than others. In Fig. 1, it is shown how often (% of total drawn from Table 2. number of sites) various kinds of fi gurative and anatomi- cal votives appear together with animal fi gurines, com- both kinds of fi gures show several parallels. Appearing pared with how often these votives occur in all sites with frequently together in the same votive deposits and in any kind of anatomical votive. It can be seen, that most the same sanctuaries, they seem to suggest that man and offerings show a pattern of distribution with regard to animal may have been devoted a similar kind of reli- the animal fi gurines which is very similar to the pattern gious attention. In many cases they were, for instance, they show in general. In other words, the use of animal probably dedicated to the same deities. Although inscrip- fi gurines seems to form an integrated part of the general tions are very rare on terracotta votive fi gures, in several use of (human) fi gurative votive offerings. cases, theonymes (not rarely appearing in pairs or triads) Summing up the results so far, not only the distribu- are otherwise known from the sanctuaries where they tion (occurring regularly in the same votive deposits in were offered. The deiteis are Apollo, Apollo Medicus, central Italy), execution (mouldmade terracottas in large Diana, Apollo and Diana, Ceres, Liber, Ceres and Liber, quantities, frequently made by worn moulds) and the Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Jupiter together with Juno and way of representation (full fi gures as well as partial rep- Minerva, Hercules, Mater Matuta, Mars Ultor, Vesta, resentations) appear to be similar for human and animal Aesculapius, Aphrodite/Venus, Turan, Castor and Pol- fi gures. The consumptional pattern of both kinds of fi g- lux, Vesperna, Feronia, Dea Marica, Mercury, Lares, ures seem to be parallel as well. Animals appear always Vertumnus, Bacchus, Leda, Thesan, Tinia, Suris and to have been a human concern, always important enough Magna Mater.4 Of course, we cannot be certain that the to be an object in the communication with the gods. animal fi gurines were dedicated to all these deities, since It is now time to look at the orientation of the cult several gods could be worshipped at a single sanctuary. places and sanctuaries where the fi nds have been made Most frequent are Diana, Apollo, Hercules, Juno and Ve- in order to discern if there were any preferences as to the nus. The frequent association with Diana is hardly sur- orientation where animal fi gurines could form part of the prising, considering her close association with animals. ritual. Various kinds of wild animals are often represented at 5 the sanctuaries where her presence is indicated. Orientation A further similarity between the two kinds of fi gu- rines seems to be that both comprise full fi gure as well as partial representations. As to the human fi gures, As can be seen in Table 2, comprising ninetythree sites, both statues and statuettes have been mentioned as these kinds of votives are very common in central well as various kinds of anatomical votives. Regarding Italy. As far as can be seen from the sites with a known the animal fi gures, partial representations of animals orientation, urban fi nds (41,2%), are more frequent than are not common. However, although the list of sites rural ones (35,3%) and almost twice as common as extra with representations of animals presented in Table 1 urban ones (23,5%). Apparently, animal fi gurines were comprises only 9 sites with such parts,6 it may not be used as often in urban sanctuaries as in rural ones (Fig. complete, given the lack of information as to the precise 2). content of many votive deposits. In most cases, feet are This may seem surprising at fi rst, since cows, pigs represented, mostly of cows. In one case, at the so called and sheep, all frequently represented, would foremost Man and animal in antiquity 279 Fig. 2. Amount (%) of urban (41,2%), extra urban (23,5 %) and rural (35,3%) sites with animal fi gurines. Approximately another 40 % of the sites listed below could not be identifi ed with certainty as to the character. be a rural concern. However, the relationship between urban and rural religion pertain a variety of aspects and considerations, suggesting anything but two separated spheres of religious life, each with a distinctive char- acter of its own. In fact, anatomical votives found in towns may also show the concerns of a rural popula- tion, as suggested by Pensabene regarding fi nds from Rome. These may have been given by people from the country visiting the city, for instance, for the elections.9 If so, animal as well as human fi gures could have been dedicated at such occasions.