Votive Statuette of a Swaddled Infant

3rd–2nd century B.C.

Medium

Terracotta with polychromy

Dimensions

55 cm

Status

In Museum Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-224302

This figure shows a somewhat mature baby. It is made from coarse clay formed in a mold, then fired, and painted. Traces of red paint remain in the child's hair. The infant has his right arm folded across his chest with a large hand emerging from the cloak. His extremely long left arm lies at his side and the hand sticking out of the lower edge of the cloak grasps an object that appears to be a pomegranate. This fruit had a long association with death in the ancient world, and its presence here suggests that a grieving mother dedicated the votive figure so that a goddess would protect her dead child.  This Etruscan votive is comparable to others that have been excavated at sanctuaries dedicated to goddesses who had a role in healing and childbirth. Such offerings served as manifestations of worshipper's prayers – be it to give birth, to secure good health for their infant child, or to request the goddess's protection for a baby that had died.