ARTH153 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Paleolithic, Traditional African Religion, Niaux
8 Sep 2016
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Commonly carved on useful tools, such as spear throwers. Findsites: graves, middens (ancient form of landfill) Woman of willendorf (venus of willandorf: found in willendorf, austria in the 19th century, dated about 25,000 bce, curved lines, soft shapes, warm colors, small size. Deemphasized limbs and face, emphasized stomach and breasts. Focus on the shape of her body, not on her abilities: many pieces from many cultures are similar. Range from many different time periods, many later. No feet so they could stand upright in the ashes. Represented fertility of the earth or spiritual regeneration of the earth after a fire had been built on it. Size suggests it could have been carried on one"s person. Symbol was found carved into the entrance of a network of french caves: because written word did not exist at this time, there is no definite answer for what these figures were meant for; only speculation.
