Votive uterus,

3rd–2nd century BCE

Thousands of molded clay objects like this have been found in sanctuaries in central Italy and Etruria dating from the third and second centuries B.C. Their identification as wombs—uteri—is maintained against a wider backdrop of anatomical votive clay offerings—feet, hands, eyes, entire gastrointestinal tracts. It is assumed that women dedicated these wombs to goddesses who could help them in childbirth, or with related gynecological maladies. This widespread interpretation does not explain why these corded objects do not really look like wombs, which most ancient people would never have seen.