the women of prehistory
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THE WOMEN OF PREHISTORY
The development of the art of the female figure and the
role of the woman through Paleolithic and Neolithic art.
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A R T 1 0 2 0 - H I S T O R Y O F A R T I N E A R L Y C I V I L I Z A T I O N
A Guided Tour by:
Sarah Wade
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THE VENUS FIGURES
In Archaeology, the term “Venus figurine” refers to any of the mobile art
sculptures of the female form created in the Paleolithic era from about 35,000
– 20,000 BCE. (Collins) These figures have been unearthed in locations
throughout Europe and despite the distance between discoveries and variety
of materials used they all bare a remarkable similarity to each other.
Each figurine emphasizes the fertility and reproductive organs of the female
form to the exclusion of detail in the face, arms and legs.
This similarity in emphasis indicates that the role of the woman in Paleolithic
times was that of fertility, mothering and childbirth; which were all crucial to
the survival of the people.
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THE VENUS OF WILLENDORF
c. 25,000 BCE
Limestone
Willendorf, Austria
The Venus of Willendorf,
discovered in Willendorf,
Austria, remains the most widely
known of all the Venus figure.
The enlarged breasts, prominent
sexual organs and lack of
remaining features became the
standard for defining a Venus
statue. The woven basket like
pattern over the head is also
common in other Venuses.
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THE VENUS OF SAVIGNANO
C 25,000 BCE
Serpentine (stone)
Savignano, Italy
Discovered in Italy, this Venus
figure displays less human like
features than the Willendorf
Venus but still retains the same
enlarged features that classify it
as a Venus. The lack of the basket
weave head sets this piece apart.
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THE VENUS OF KOSTENSKI
c.23,000 - 21,000 BCE
Limestone
Kostenski, Russia
This Russian Venus bares an uncanny
resemblance to the Venus of Willendorf.
The shapes and textures are similar
and even the head has a similar basket
weave texture. It bares the same tell
tale Venus figurine emphasis on the
reproductive organs indicating that this
too may have been a fertility talisman.
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THE VENUS OF DOLNI VESTONICE
c. ~24,000 BCE
Ceramic
Dolni Vestonice, Czechoslovakia
The Venus of Dolni Vestonice is the
oldest ceramic Venus discovered.
Until the set this figurine was
discovered in all of the Venuses in
other regions had been made of
stone, bone or ivory. This piece was
fired in a rudimentary prehistoric
kiln. (Lienhard)
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SEATED GODDESS CATAL
HUYUKC 5,700 BCE.
Baked Clay
Catal Huyuk, Turkey
The Neolithic goddess figurines
tended to have more facial features
than their predecessors with more
prominent arms and legs and
appeared to more closely resemble
the human figure, such as this piece,
the seated goddess discovered in
Anatolia’s Catal Huyuk.
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MINOAN SNAKE GODDESS
c. 1700 - 1600 BCE
Ivory and Gold
Crete, Greece
The Minoan snake goddess
discovered in Crete is quite possibly
one of the most detailed and
exquisite pieces of goddess art from
the Neolithic period. It’s attention to
detail surpasses all other Neolithic
goddesses and is one of the only
figures to appear in clothing.
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WORKS CITED
"Catal Hoyuk, Turkey." Ancient-Wisdom - Online Guide to Prehistory.. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb.
2011. <http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/turkeycatalhuyuk.htm>.
Collins, Neil, Karina Collins, and Ãine Ni Muireadhaigh . "Venus Figurines of Prehistoric Art: �Carvings of Obese Female: Willendorf, Dolni Vestonice: History, Dates, Photos." Irish Art:
Encyclopedia of Visual Arts in Ireland: History of Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking: Greatest
Artists, Best Museums, Art Movements. Collins, Neil, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. <http://www.visual-
arts-cork.com/prehistoric/venus-figurines.htm>.
Hitchcock, Don. "Venus figures from Dolni Vestonice, Pavlov, Brno, Predmost and Surrounding
Areas." Don's Maps - Paleolithic / Paleolithic European, Russian and Australian Archaeology /
Archeology . N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.donsmaps.com/dolnivenus.html>.
Hitchcock, Don. "Venus figures from Russia, the Ukraine and sites East of the Donau mouth."
Don's Maps - Paleolithic / Paleolithic European, Russian and Australian Archaeology / Archeology .
N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.donsmaps.com/ukrainevenus.html>.
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WORKS CITED CONT.
Hitchcock, Don. "Venus figures from the Stone Age." Don's Maps - Paleolithic /
Paleolithic European, Russian and Australian Archaeology / Archeology . N.p., n.d.
Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.donsmaps.com/venus.html>.
Lienhard, John. "No. 359: The Dolni Vestonice Ceramics ." University of Houston.
N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://uh.edu/engines/epi359.htm>.
Witcombe, Christopher. "Women in the Aegean: Minoan Snake Goddess: 6. Snake
Goddesses on Crete." Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2011.
<http://witcombe.sbc.edu/snakegoddess/crete.html>.
Witcombe, Christopher. "Venus of Willendorf: 5. Earth Mother - Mother Goddess."
Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2011.
<http://witcombe.sbc.edu/willendorf/willendorfgoddess.html>.
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