votive offerings
Gifts for gods
Votive offerings are objects given to a deity or sacred power in fulfillment of a vow, in hope of a favor, or as an act of devotion.
The practice spans virtually all religious traditions: candles lit in churches, flowers left at shrines, coins tossed into sacred wells.
The offerings may be elaborate or humble, but what distinguishes them is their dedicatory purpose rather than their material value.
Archaeologists discovered thousands of votive offerings at the temple site.
- ex-votoDevotional offering of gratitude
- libationCeremonial drink offering
- altarSacred ritual table
- church altarSacred table for rituals
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
prayer · prayer candle · sacred flame · temples · ancient temple · thanksgiving · inscriptions · gratitude · candles · rituals · consecration · terracotta · devotion · deity · supplication · propitiation · appeasement · pilgrimage
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- ancient artifactsjade mask, Viking sword, bronze sculptures, antiquities, Roman coin
- ancient religiongods, goddesses, pantheon, deity, polytheism
- antiquitiesancient coins, ancient relics, ancient artifacts, ancient pottery, ancient seals
- ancient artsculpture, sculptures, pottery, mosaics, murals
- Ancient OlympiaOlympia, Temple of Zeus, stadium, Olympic Games, Zeus
votive offeringsparty favors
Small gifts for guests
souvenirs · tips · bribes · housewarming gifts · thank-you notes
votive offeringsdivine blessings
Favors granted by God
miracles · divine grace · benedictions · manna · sacraments
votive offeringsplunder
Goods seized violently
loot · pillage · sacrilege · desecration · confiscation