Inscribed Eye Votive

Aurelia’s dedication

ΘΕΩ ΕΠΗΚΟΩ ΥΨΙΣΤΩ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΑ ΑΡΤ[Ε]ΜΙΣΙΑ ΕΦΕΣΙΑ ΕΥ[ΞΑ]ΜΕΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΛ[ΕΗ]ΘΙΣΑ ΑΝΕΘΗ[ΚΕΝ]

To the highest god who listens: Aurelia Artemisia of Ephesos, having prayed and received mercy, dedicated this.

The continuous dedication beneath the eyes is read as one passage. Aurelia Artemisia identifies herself as Ephesian, describes her prayer and the mercy received, and records her gift. Brackets mark letters restored in the museum transcription.

Eye on the left

An eye cast in bronze beneath a raised eyebrow.

The pupils point in different directions. The museum interprets this detail as a reference to an eye ailment associated with the dedication. Left and right here describe your view of the front.

Eye on the right

The second eye completes the pair above the inscribed panel.

Compare its pupil with the other eye. This is a votive offering: the inscription records Aurelia Artemisia’s thanks for help received after prayer. The museum does not identify a specific diagnosis.

A personal dedication

Aurelia Artemisia of Ephesos offered this bronze object after a prayer was answered. The cast eyes sit above a five-line Greek inscription.

Eyes and healing

The museum connects the unequal positions of the pupils with an eye ailment. The inscription itself records the prayer, response and gift, rather than a diagnosis.

Bronze and lettering

The object measures 11.6 × 13.2 × 2.1 cm and dates to the early third century CE. The inscription is incised into the plate below the eyes.

The scanned surface

The bronze surface and surviving lettering come from the museum’s 3D scan. Highlights and English readings are display annotations. Letters restored in brackets in the published transcription are not added to the object.