Votive offering

Votive offerings (from Latin votum ) are due to a vow (regional and betrothal ) as a symbolic victims especially for the rescue of an emergency and often proffered in a cultic site objects. In the Catholic Church ( votive tablets ) were particularly prevalent in the Baroque votive paintings, which constitute an emergency situation, and with the written notice ex voto (Latin, because of a vow ') were provided.

The leading to a votive vow is called votated take the vow viable following person as a voter. As Votivschatz refers to both the entirety of the collected at a cultic place votive offerings as well as an archaeological find, which consists mainly of votive offerings.

Prehistory and history

Even the cultures of prehistory and antiquity knew the custom to consider sacred sites with Votivopfern. Originally they made oblations to represent deities, who could be both rogation, and peace offerings. Such include archaic Kouroi or Korai. The famous Charioteer of Delphi is a votive offering.

In Europe, examples of votive offerings in archeology are occupied since the Stone Age. Most votive offerings were made before a stoppage deliberately unusable to prevent a profane use (eg weapons).

However, the most common votive offerings in Roman times were not weapons, but woman jewelry and other items of female privacy, which certainly has something to do with the Matronenkult. Votivsteine ​​are ordained altars that are dedicated mainly one or more matrons. They owe their origin mainly to the problems and needs in the ancient and early medieval dwellings. On such altars many votive inscriptions have been preserved. They are not only the matrons, but also other deities. Shape, font and origin of the votive inscription is Roman.

The Greeks brought their miracle-working God Asklepios votive offerings in Epidaurus, Cnidus, Pergamon and other places of worship dar. testimonies of the religious life of the Romans, the Phrygian god Sabazius consecrated Votivhände and the pictures of human body parts, clay and bronze in the Temple of Isis at Pompeii, and also in Germany ( Germania Romana ) Votivbleche frequently found.

The Votivkult not died out about the Christianization of Europe, but was inserted into the Christian tradition. Especially at places of pilgrimage are often encountered the replicas of objects in miniature form (eg, votive tablets, votive votives, votive crowns ), dedicated to a saint, a request or thanks mediate plastic expression.

Exists in other religions, or there was a Votivkult.

Christian votive offerings

In Christianity there is Votivbrauchtum since the early days. The motif of a votive offering one linked like with certain recurring types of images, such as the Mary in the ears dress for the petition for deliverance from captivity. For most development occurred in the Baroque period, as well as the belief in miracles reached its peak. In the church of graves in Carinthia iron votive offerings were also found in the form of simulated extremities and a couple cattle. To the churches of St. Leonhard ( the band solver ) were also attached chains as votive offerings because of vows, then to St. Leonhard in Carinthia 's Lavant Valley. This practice resulted in the Alpine region to the chain churches.

Paintings and other two-dimensional works of art are referred to as ex-votos, for three-dimensionally configured objects is the name Gebildvotiv usual (eg for Fatschenkinder called sculptures of infants or wax replicas in the form of an organ ). Also works of architecture can be offered as a votive; known example of a votive church is the Votive Church, for a Plague Plague Vienna.

A special form of Christian Votivs is the Passion Play, whose production dates back in many cases to a vow.

Gave and Various forms of votive offerings

Votive offerings, mostly of wax, votive offerings for cures of diseases, folklore museum Dietesheim I

Votive tablets of the 20th century in Wolketsweiler: left the representation of a flight over the German - German border

Votive ship of 1617 in the St. Peter's Church ( parish churches ), Island of Fehmarn

Madonna, votive and candles in the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseille

Coesfelder cross with silver votive offerings; inter alia in the form of a leg and a hand.

Votive painting in St. Martin, Flintsbach