- Feb 3, 2023
Prehistoric Feminine Icons
- Eline Kieft, Ph.D.
- Spirituality and Shamanism, Goddess, Archetypal Realm
Stay tuned!
Collection: Goddess
In this post I’ll take you on a recent visit to the special exhibition “Arts and Prehistory” *) in the Museum of Mankind (Musée de l’Homme) in Paris.*) As an anthropologist, ethnographic museums like these are among my favourites, with superb displays taking you on a journey through the incredible diversity of human culture, art, biology, evolution, medicine, spirituality and ritual across the world. Masks, mythology, ritual practice, divination and healing tools, what’s not to like?
The exhibition features women figurines and cave paintings from dating between 26.000-34.000 years old, and I wonder how these prehistoric icons can inspire us to look at female bodies today… It is another ode to human imagination and creativity in connection to the mystery of life, jus like a previous visit to the British Museum - see button underneath this article....
The Exhibition
Did you know that the female body engraved in rock walls, sculpted from mammoth teeth or bones, antlers, soapstone, limestone or even wood, is one of the most prominent ‘topics’ of our artistic ancestors?
The exhibition displays women figurines and cave paintings from all over Europe, Russia and the Middle East dating between 26.000-34.000 years old. To date, over a 100 such statuettes have been discovered, and archeologists dubbed them ‘Venuses’, in honour of the Greek/Roman Goddess.
Sculptures either emphasise the voluptuousness and curviness of the female body, with round bellies, buttocks and thighs and voluminous breasts, or display a stylised vulva with a simple triangle. Sometimes the focus is on the torso only, without arms or legs. Sometimes they appear Maiden-like with flat bellies, other times pregnant, or with empty, saggy breasts. Each is beautiful in her own right, in one of the phases of womanhood.
Like so much of the prehistoric art, we don’t know why they feature so prominently – indeed they appear much more often than representations of male bodies! Perhaps as a matriarchic icon they referred to social organisation, or they served a fertility talisman during rituals or to mark births… Perhaps they were portraits of actual women the artists loved.
Whatever the reason of these prehistoric artists, such “iconic representation of femininity” (quote from the exhibition displays) were so important that our ancestors spent precious time on carving them.
Meeting the Goddess
Although there were many more, the following sculptures caught my attention...
1. Venus de Pataud
In the centre of the limestone block you see a slender but pregnant female form. Here you can get a better idea of her shape. It was quite mesmerising to be drawn into the stone and hang out with her.
20 cm high, limestone, 26-21.000 years, Dordogne
2. Venus de Lespugue
This “Mona Lisa of prehistoric art” has a voluptuous front and back, and when turned around, even intricately detailed hair coming all the way down her buttocks. It was possible to hold a replica, which brought out these details and made the connection with the artist come alive after all this time.
15 cm high, mammoth tooth, 27.000 years, Haute-Garonne
3. The Immodest Venus
Without arms and a clearly visible vulva, this statue was a shock to the 19th century finder. Where other Venuses are often named after the place where they were found, this one was contrasted with the more modest Roman sculptures of Venus in which the goddess hides her sex behind a hand.
8 cm tall, carved from ivory, 17.000 years, Dordogne
4. Mother Goddess de la Valette
I also spent quite some time with this replica of the Mother Goddess from Malta. Do I see a Snake on her lap, or is that my imagination? I really love her seated posture with folded legs, as solid and grounded as the earth herself.
50cm, Malta, Moulage
5. The Venus of Laussel, or ‘Venus with a Horn’
She holds an object that looks like a horn or crescent moon. The horn has 13 lines filled in with red ocher that may refer to the lunar and menstrual cycles. ***)
46 cm, sculpted in a limestone rock, 29.000 years, Dordogne limestone
6. Phallic Staff with Vulva
Aside from several stylised penises and a double-headed penis, this unusual staff combines a penis and vulva, as a two-in-one essentials for reproduction!
5 cm, carved from reindeer antler, 19-14.000 years, Carente
Musings
It was such a joy to meander through this ancient ode to womanhood. I am really curious to hear what these images bring up for you. And we can ask ourselves:
How can our ancestors empower us in the 21st century?
How can these prehistoric icons inspire us to look at female bodies today?
How can they help us to love our bodies just a little bit more, with the flabby and knobbly bits, the scars, stretch marks and croaky joints?
I think, whatever her age, shape or size, the view of a woman at home in her body is one of the most beautiful things in the world. One of my earliest ballet teachers, Monique Diederen, told us “Feel beautiful, then you are beautiful.” Well before I knew about quantum physics, she taught me about the power of spirit over matter in this very simple yet potent way.
It is not what (most) men or the beauty industry are inclined to tell you, but there is nothing as enticing as the twinkle in a woman’s eyes who embodies the profound secret of the female mysteries…
Reconnect with that inner spark inside you. I know it’s there, however deep you might think it’s buried. It’s more potent than any make-up, body cream or surgery.
Call on the power of maiden, mother and crone regardless of your life-stage, and let these strong female archetypes infuse your womanhood, femininity, sexuality, and mothering (whether or not you have physical children). Confidently radiate your beauty from within. You are one helluva spark!
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The small print...
This article was first published in the Feminism and Religion Blog, earlier on 3 February 2023.
Image Credits: Eline Kieft, Musée de l’Homme, Exhibition Art & Préhistoire, visited 14 January 2023.
*) This exhibition runs until 22 May 2023 so should you find yourself in Paris before then, I can highly recommend it!
**) I did reflect on the name of the museum, and like the English equivalent ‘mankind’, the word in French refers to one gender only (homme = man). Especially in light of exhibitions that strongly celebrate womanhood and femininity, perhaps it’s time to rename the museum ‘Musée de l’Homme et Femme’ or another more inspired alternative!
Kieft, Eline (2022). Dancing in the Muddy Temple. A Moving Spirituality of Land and Body. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books.