The making of infants in Hellenistic and early Roman Italy

A Votive Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID4890676
AuthorsEmma-Jayne Graham (0000-0003-2659-1534, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume45
Issue2
Pages215-231
Publication date2013-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438243.2013.799041
OpenAlexW2019127828
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited15

Votive deposits from Hellenistic and early Roman central Italy provide valuable evidence for the genuine concerns, fears and hopes of contemporary communities, including experiences and understandings of pregnancy, childbirth and infancy. This paper examines two types of terracotta votive – models of human uteri and swaddled infants – in order to elucidate the significance of the social and religious beginnings of life in ancient Italy. In particular, the study addresses the manner in which these states of being were perceived and produced by both parents and society at large through the treatment of the unborn/newborn body and its representation in the sanctuary. Keywords: Hellenistic and Roman Italyswaddlingvotiveinfantbirth Acknowledgements This paper is part of a wider study of the swaddled infant ex-votos of Italy, for which I am grateful for the support of the British Academy and the British School at Rome. Thanks must also be extended to Maureen Carroll, Maria Pia Malvezzi, Alessandra Giovenco and the many museum staff who provided access to their collections and permission to reproduce photographs, including Dr d'Ambrosio (Museo Nazionale delle Terme, Rome), Dr Beatrice Casocavallo (Museo Archeologico di Tarquinia), Dr Catalano (Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Civitavecchia), Dr Martine Dewailly (École Française de Rome), Giulio DiGiorgio and Stefano Frusone (Museo Nazionale Etrusco, Villa Giulia) Dr Grassi and Signor Bracaglia-Annibale (Museo Civico Viterbo) and the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici dell'Etruria Meridionale

Ancient history · Art · Hellenistic Period · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Representation (politics · Terracotta · History · Law · Reproductive Health and Technologies

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