exvotosinscribed

Exvotos inscribed are votive offerings that bear inscriptions detailing petitions, vows, and subsequent miracles, typically placed at sacred sites to thank a saint or divinity. The inscription often includes the donor's name, place, date, the illness or misfortune, and the outcome.

In many regions, especially in Latin America and Southern Europe, inscribed exvotos take the form of metal plaques, tin or copper plates, sometimes ceramic tablets, or painted panels with text. They may be affixed to church walls, altars, or dedicated chapels.

The inscriptions function as testimonial records of popular religious practice, offering data on medical conditions, social ties, and community networks. They can illuminate local cults, pilgrimage routes, and patron saints.

Historically, inscribed exvotos flourished from the 16th to 19th centuries, with notable scholarship focusing on Mexican and Spanish examples, though similar traditions exist in Portugal, Italy, and the Philippines. They continue to be produced in some areas.

Preservation and study: Museums, archives, and churches preserve extant exvotos, often cataloged in museum collections. Scholars examine language, epigraphy, iconography, and material culture to understand devotion, healing beliefs, and ritual practices.