Giving an Arm and a Leg: Healing Dedications and the Performance of Anatomical Votive Offering

Anatomical votive offerings serve as powerful materializations of suffering and healing, bridging divine and mortal relationships through ritual practice. This study reveals that such objects, examined across ancient Greek and modern Mexican traditions at the Sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidaurus, actively shape collective pilgrim experiences by making visible both illness and its potential resolution. By transforming body parts into portable dedications, these votives create a cumulative narrative of healing accessible to visitors, influencing sanctuary structures and votive timelines. The research highlights their adaptability as ritual tools, offering insights into how populations seek healing and engage with sanctuaries, rather than merely representing symbolic meanings.

O'Loughlin, Emily Joy. (2026). Giving an Arm and a Leg: Healing Dedications and the Performance of Anatomical Votive Offering. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries. https://doi.org/10.17615/GGAN-9254