Plagues and artistic votive expressions (ex voto) of popular piety.
Plagues and artistic votive expressions (ex voto) of popular piety.
Infez Med. 2019 Jun 01;27(2):198-211
Authors: Sabbatani S, Fiorino S, Manfredi R
Abstract
In past centuries, epidemics, the scourge of humankind, caused pain, anger, uncertainty of the future, social as well as economic disorder and a significant impact on their victims, involving also their spiritual sphere. The latter effect led to undoubted effects on participation in the religious and social life of communities. The custom of preparing artistic votive expressions has been lost in the mists of time and evidence of ex voto gifts, offered by believers to pagan gods, has been found in prehistoric archaeological sites. Furthermore, several finds from the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds may be observed in our museums. These remains are generally ceramic and metal artifacts, reproducing limbs and other body parts which had been healed. These elements, according to the belief of those making the offerings, had benefited from the miraculous intervention of a thaumaturgical deity. With the advent of Christianity, some pre-existing religious practices were endorsed by the new religion. Believers continued to demonstrate their gratitude in different ways either to miracle-working saints or to the Virgin Mary, because they thought that, thanks to an act of faith, their own health or that of a family member would benefit from the direct intervention of the divine entities to wh...
Source: Infezioni in Medicina - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Infez Med Source Type: research
More News: Environmental Health | Epidemics | Epidemiology | Greece Health | Infectious Diseases | Outbreaks | Pain | Study