Votive Reliefs of Lower Extremities Disorders: A Brief Review

Efi Theodoraki; George K Paraskevas; Konstantinos Natsis; Niki Papavramidou

doi:10.7759/cureus.7020

Votive Reliefs of Lower Extremities Disorders: A Brief Review

Cureus. 2020 Feb 17;12(2):e7020. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7020.

Authors

Efi Theodoraki¹, George K Paraskevas², Konstantinos Natsis³, Niki Papavramidou⁴

Affiliations

¹ Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
² Orthopaedics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
³ Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.
⁴ History of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a series of votive reliefs from Graeco-Roman antiquity related to disorders of the lower extremities, in order to comprehend the importance of anatomical offerings as gifts of gratitude to healing gods such as Asclepius. The selected offerings cover disorders such as varicose vein disease and deformities of the lower limbs and provide significant information on medical treatments in ancient Greece, as well as the importance of religious practices in the healing process.

Keywords: graeco-roman period; lower extremity; votive reliefs.

Publication types

Review