Ancient & Tribal Feminine Imagery

 

 

This photo album illustrates several of the themes covered in my lectures and publications concerning the changing interpretations, archaeology, and significance of feminine imagery from prehistory to modern, ethnographically studied tribes, with a particular emphasis on the western Eurasian Paleolithic. My heartfelt thanks to those who granted me the right to photograph pieces in their care.




© 2009 Duncan Caldwell. All rights reserved.

Neanderthal manuport? B-de-L, Mousterian site, Yonne, France
An incised "gravid" nodule, said to be Terme-Pialat, Dordogne
Back incisions. Terme Pialat?
Paleolithic perforated phalanges. Left Tarté. Right Moustier. 2
Paleolithic perforated phalanges. Left Tarté. Right Moustier. 1
Phalangial figurine or whistle? Neolithic or earlier. SE France.
Galgenberg Venus in Vienna Natural History Museum photoed by D. Caldwell 5
Venus of Willendorf. Photoed by D. Caldwell. 3
Venus of Willendorf. Photoed by D. Caldwell. 2
Venus of Willendorf. Photoed by D. Caldwell. 10
Venus of Willendorf. Photoed by D. Caldwell. 7
Lespugue Venus cast. Photoed by D. Caldwell
Divinities or devotees?Oriental Hellenistic marble devotee.
Different degrees of supernaturals: hierarchical Thracian Cavalry Cult lead funeral plaque, 3rd C AD, Danube. 1
Thracian Cavalry Cult lead funeral plaque with registers, 3rd C AD, Danube. War goddess holding bridles.
Perenniality: la Dame Blanche at Lourdes recalls sightings of female supernaturals at caves & springs & with cattle since Gallo-Roman times
Men with cave fire as imagined by painter, Buck McCain
The 1st described Schematic Venus. On a mammoth tusk. Photoed by D. Caldwell
Newly recognized Schematic Venus, on an eroded mammoth bone. Predmosti, Czech Republic
Unpublished Schematic Venus, Predmosti detail of bust.
"Prey-mother" caves. Paleolithic vulva & horse. Nemours region.
"Prey-mother" caves. Paleolithic vulva & horse. Nemours region. Contoured
Neolithic phalliform venus. Side 1 - mummiform face. W. Sahara.
Phalliform venus. Side 2 - vulva & knock-kneed legs. W. Sahara.
Neolithic phalliform pregnant anthropomorph. South-central Sahara, probably Azawagh basin.
Paleo-Eskimo eroded walrus ivory venus with vulva & fingers
Paleo-Eskimo eroded walrus ivory venus with vulva & fingers. 1
Paleo-Eskimo eroded walrus ivory venus with vulva & fingers. 2
Paleo-Eskimo eroded walrus ivory venus with vulva & fingers. 3
Paleo-Eskimo eroded walrus ivory venus with vulva & fingers. 4
Chukchi fireboards in New York Natural History Museum 2
Monumental woman. Syrian or eastern Anatolia. Lava.
Djemdet Nasr alabaster bird-masked & wing-cloaked venus 1
Djemdet Nasr alabaster bird-masked & wing-cloaked venus 2
Anatolian "Crescent Master" complete aquiline venus 1
Anatolian "Crescent Master" complete aquiline venus 2
Anatolian "Crescent Master" Complete aquiline venus 1
Anatolian "Crescent Master" complete aquiline venus 3
Anatolian "Crescent Master" partial aquiline venus
Anatolian Neolithic silicified limestone venus 1
Anatolian Neolithic silicified limestone venus 2
Northern Fertile Crescent Neolithic ivory venus
Northern Fertile Crescent Neolithic ivory venus. Anatolian or Syrian.
Anatolian violin venus/Idol made of lava
Anatolian or Syrian lava violin idol.
Caykenar type black swan venus. Early Bronze Age I-II
Unique bone Anatolian Kiliya/Kilia "Star-Gazer" venus with raised arm.
Unique bone Anatolian Kiliya/Kilia "Star-Gazer" venus with raised arm. 2
Red Cycladic venus "Pendant" - Katonah Museum exhibition
Cycladic Chalandriani venus with post-partum wrinkles
Marble anthropomorphic bead. Anatolian Neolithic.
Chalcolithic opalescent rock crystal venus
Cucuteni Venus #1
Cucuteni Venus #2
Cucuteni venuses
"Masked" female Vinca venus 2
Eastern Balkan gravid rattle vase. 13.5 cm. Paris auction.
Pre-dynastic Egyptian / Beersheeba acephalic ivory venus
Neolithic female figurine. South-central Sahara, probably in the Azawagh basin
Pre-Dynastic or Thinnite platinum ore venus with vulvar palette
Pre-Dynastic or Thinnite platinum ore venus with vulvar palette - rear
Egyptian woman's sarcophagal mask
Mehrgahr Indus Valley Neolithic venus #1
Mehrgahr Indus Valley Neolithic venus #2
Mehrgahr Indus Valley Neolithic venus #3
Mesopotamian eye idol with feet
Northern Fertile Crescent venus with bitumen & drilled armpits. Eye idol too?
Iberian owl-eye idol plaque from dolmen.
Owl-faced woman giving birth. Scepter head. 1
Owl-Headed woman giving birth. Marble scepter. 1
Owl-Headed woman giving birth. Marble scepter. 2
Owl-faced woman giving birth. Scepter head. Detail.
Phalliform conical marble proto-historic venus
Terracotta female figurine. Mount Pentadactylos, Cyprus.
Unique Bronze Age polysemic venus, Sennonais, Yonne
Roman marble Venus
Eastern Hellenistic (Palmyra?) woman with offering cup
Pious early Christian lady holding lamb. Ivory.
Early Christian ivory devotee with a sheep representing Christ
Dong Son bronze axe with plumed dancers
Prehistoric pipe representing a woman. Lyon Co KY
19th C Ancestral Maiden Antelope Mask - Enzebi?
Dogon statue 17th-18th Century per Hélène Leloup, 42cm, ex Dartevelle, Sotheby’s, Caldwell coll
Idoma Ekwotame funeral, fertility & lineage statue, Caldwell coll
Idoma Ekwotame funeral, fertility & lineage statue, Detail, Caldwell coll
Idoma-Akweja Anjenu statue, See pg 112-113 in Neyt Benue Book
Punu Moukuye white-faced mask with 4 pointed coif & residual splints
Punu mask with red forehead. Like Pl. 20 in Louis Perrois book