Roman votive dedication plaque

Roman votive dedication plaque
ITEM: Votive dedication plaque inscribed '[(For)...] Likaon and Martialis, having made a vow, set up [this] with good fortune'.
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 2nd - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 51 mm x 90 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex U.S Gallery, Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 94 (18 September 2013), Lot 865

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Roman votive plaques were offerings made to the gods as acts of devotion, gratitude, or supplication. These dedications, known as ex voto offerings, were typically made in fulfillment of a vow (votum) and placed in temples, shrines, or sacred spaces. Votive plaques could be crafted from various materials, including bronze, terracotta, marble, and even wood, and they often bore inscriptions detailing the reason for the offering. Many plaques depicted images of deities, body parts (symbolizing healing requests), or scenes related to the supplicant’s prayers. Such dedications were an essential part of Roman religious life, reflecting personal and communal expressions of faith.

These plaques often served medical, military, and personal purposes. Individuals who had recovered from illness might dedicate a plaque featuring a sculpted relief of the healed body part as a gesture of thanks to a healing deity such as Aesculapius or Apollo. Soldiers and officials frequently left plaques honoring Mars, Jupiter, or Mithras after surviving battles or achieving victories. Likewise, traders and sailors dedicated plaques to Neptune or Mercury, seeking safe passage and commercial success. The inscriptions on these plaques, usually in Latin, provide valuable insights into the lives of ordinary Romans, revealing details about professions, social status, and personal concerns.

Votive plaques were an enduring tradition throughout the Roman world, found in Italy, Gaul, Britannia, and the provinces of the eastern Mediterranean. Over time, the practice evolved, with early Christian communities adopting similar forms of votive dedication, replacing pagan gods with saints. Many Roman plaques have been discovered in archaeological excavations, helping scholars reconstruct aspects of Roman religious practices and popular devotion. Today, these artifacts are displayed in museums, offering a tangible connection to the everyday spirituality of the ancient world.

Measurement:

9 x 5.1 cm