The development of the art of the female figure and the role of the woman through Paleolithic and Neolithic art.

1. 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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2. 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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3. MAP OF PALEOLITHIC ART IN
PREHISTORIC EUROPE
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4. THE VENUS FIGURES
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5. 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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6. 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. 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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10. A NEW LOOK
The Goddesses of the Neolithic period
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11. MAP OF NEOLITHIC
GODDESSES
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12. SEATED GODDESS
CATAL HUYUK
C 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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13. 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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14. 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 Õine 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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15. 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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