votive offering
Quick Summary
A votive offering is something offered to a god or deity, often as an act of worship, devotion, or to fulfill a vow. These offerings can take various forms, such as sacrifices, oblations, or even simple items like votive candles used as prayer offerings. In ancient Vedic religion, complex rituals involved specific offerings to safeguard life, control unseen powers, and maintain beneficial relationships with the divine. While elaborate sacrifices were common, simpler domestic rituals also included modest oblations. The act of making a religious offering is also referred to as an oblation.123456
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folk artPainting…notably as the ex-voto, or votive offering, hung in churches and chapels, and in America, where portraits and local scenes were executed in oil, pastel, or watercolour. More typically, the painted depictions that occur in folk art are incorporated into other objects; for example, the American clock faces bearing local…
Read More…notably as the ex-voto, or votive offering, hung in churches and chapels, and in America, where portraits and local scenes were executed in oil, pastel, or watercolour. More typically, the painted depictions that occur in folk art are incorporated into other objects; for example, the American clock faces bearing local…
Read More- folk artReligious art
Since antiquity, some form of votive art has occurred in connection with religion. In India, outdoor shrines may be surrounded by a veritable crowd of papier-mâché figures set on the ground as offerings. Catholic churches and chapels throughout the world are hung with countless small ex-votos, usually cutouts of stamped…
Read MoreSince antiquity, some form of votive art has occurred in connection with religion. In India, outdoor shrines may be surrounded by a veritable crowd of papier-mâché figures set on the ground as offerings. Catholic churches and chapels throughout the world are hung with countless small ex-votos, usually cutouts of stamped…
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ceremonial objectIncense and other smoke devices…the hand to accompany a votive offering. In Japan the censer (kōdan)—a vessel with a perforated cover and carried by chains—was used in Buddhist and Shintō rituals. In pre-Hellenistic Egypt and among ancient Jews, incense was burned in golden bowls, which sometimes had handles, and in cauldrons placed on or…
Read More…the hand to accompany a votive offering. In Japan the censer (kōdan)—a vessel with a perforated cover and carried by chains—was used in Buddhist and Shintō rituals. In pre-Hellenistic Egypt and among ancient Jews, incense was burned in golden bowls, which sometimes had handles, and in cauldrons placed on or…
Read More- ceremonial objectObjects used in rites of passage
…into the form of a votive offering (tsha-tsha), which is placed in the niches of the funeral stupa (mchod-rten). In ancient southwestern India the terra-cotta “feminine” urns had a pair of “breasts” formed by two bowls stuck onto the bulge of the urn.
Read More…into the form of a votive offering (tsha-tsha), which is placed in the niches of the funeral stupa (mchod-rten). In ancient southwestern India the terra-cotta “feminine” urns had a pair of “breasts” formed by two bowls stuck onto the bulge of the urn.
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ancient Egyptian religionPiety, practical religion, and magicAlthough votive offerings show that significant numbers of people took gifts to temples, it is difficult to gauge the social status of donors, whose intentions are seldom indicated, probably in part for reasons of decorum. Two likely motives are disinterested pious donation for the deity and…
Read MoreAlthough votive offerings show that significant numbers of people took gifts to temples, it is difficult to gauge the social status of donors, whose intentions are seldom indicated, probably in part for reasons of decorum. Two likely motives are disinterested pious donation for the deity and…
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Latin American artTrends, c. 1970–presentThe ex-voto, a small commemorative painting honouring the intervention of a saint in its owner’s life, had been produced as early as the 18th century. Formed out of tin or other scrap material, this folk art continued throughout the national period. The untrained style of ex-voto…
Read MoreThe ex-voto, a small commemorative painting honouring the intervention of a saint in its owner’s life, had been produced as early as the 18th century. Formed out of tin or other scrap material, this folk art continued throughout the national period. The untrained style of ex-voto…
Read More- Slavic religionCommunal banquets and related practices
Such feasts are votive. In Russia sometimes the animals (or their flesh) are first brought into the church and perfumed with incense. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were small villages in Russia where cattle were butchered only on the occasion of these festivities, three…
Read MoreSuch feasts are votive. In Russia sometimes the animals (or their flesh) are first brought into the church and perfumed with incense. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were small villages in Russia where cattle were butchered only on the occasion of these festivities, three…
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