Art Institute of Chicago

Oinochoe (Pitcher)

Greek; Thessaly

Date

800-700 BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Thessalía

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Votives This precious bronze object is a votive, or devotional gift, made for gods. They come in many forms. Some are miniature sculptures of animals, mostly depicting horses, deer, and birds. Others are items of personal adornment, including beads and brooches. Quite a few seem once to have been attached to something else. Thousands of votives that were hung from sacred trees or placed in sanctuaries around Greece. Once a shrine was full, the votives were gathered together and ceremonially buried to make room for more offerings. This votive comes from Thessaly in northeastern Greece.

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