Treasures for the God Viewing Votive Offerings in the Temples of Asklepios

Abstract

This paper aims to draw attention to the significant contribution of the display of dedications of past worshippers in a sanctuary to the creation of a space where direct contact with the divine was possible. Focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the cult of Asklepios, it draws together strands of thought from new materialism and the study of visuality in religion to outline an understanding of viewing votives as an active, reciprocal activity. In doing so, it highlights three major functions of the votive display in Asklepieia: the votives anchor the power of Asklepios; create a sense of the (diachronic) presence of worshippers; and prompt reflection on the nature of the interaction between human and god. Together, these examples demonstrate that the votive display, approached with ritual-centred visuality and recognised as an active agent, was a key factor in making Asklepios accessible to his supplicants.