Image Credit: http://www.azstarnet.com/ ~gallae/mater5.htm

Venus Figurines have been found throughout Europe, from western France, to western Russia. They are in essence, small Paleolithic figurines of women, and sometimes (but a limited few) of men. The age of the Venus figurines covers a time span from 27,000 years ago, to 20,000 years ago. The Venus figurines have been found carved in stone, ivory and wood, and also crafted of clay. The most famous Venus figurine is the "Venus of Willendorf." The Willendorf was found in an area of Willendorf, Austria, and continues to be the standard for descriptions of this specific type of figurine. However, the Venus of Willendorf is only one small portion of the diversity of all the figurines found through out Europe. The sizes and proportions of the Venus figurines vary. The Willendorf figurine, and several others of its type are endowed with large breasts, a large stomach, and swollen thighs, and is obviously pregnant. Other figurines are shown carrying horns (cornucopias) with much the same characteristics of the Willendorf type figurines. Other figurines differ in shape and size, some are thin but obviously pregnant, other figurines differ in age and are small. Still other figurines have been found with traces of red ochre paint on them.

Analysis of the Venus figures has yielded many interesting theories concerning their purpose within the lives of Paleolithic people. The statues themselves were crafted during the prehistoric time period known as the Aurignacian. Characteristic of the Aurignacian (32,000 to 25,000 years ago) is the use of new tool types with a strong dependence on blades, and the use of finer tools and points than were found in the prior period of the Peragordian. In addition, the Aurignacian also represents a hunter gather culture which moved through out Europe, and hunted many of the big game animals, such as cave bears, mammoths etc. Aurignacian art and tools are found throughout Europe and are made of many diverse materials such as antler, bone, clay, ivory, and wood. The life of a Paleolithic person often times centered around the hunt, however archeological evidence has also shown the importance of gathering. What is clear is that the Venus figurines are found through out Europe in a variety of places. With their differing physiques, and the symbolism attached to them, they are thought by the majority of scholars to be fertility objects, or symbols of an earth goddess cult.

Image courtesy of L.A.Jullien Collection Pierre Bolduc, curator

The differing theories of the Venus figurines and their purposes, have ranged from the figurines simply being fertility objects, and examples of Paleolithic art, to being representative of the various population phases and periods of the Aurignacian. The theory that they may represent different segments of the Paleolithic population has been proliferated by anthropologist Patricia Rice. After studying 188, Venus figurines Rice found that the figurines were quite varied in shape and size, and that their ages could possibly be ascertained by the number of lines on their faces. The final theory of Rice, was that the varying degree and age of the figurines was quite similar to the same variations as found within historical hunter-gatherer societies. Rice's theory has been strongly supported by other anthropologists, however, the question still remains what exactly were the Venus figurines used for. It is accepted by most anthropologists that the figurines were fertility symbols, but other theories exist. Among these theories is that the statuettes were created by the women they represented. Another anthropologist has theorized that the shape, size and design of the figurines are similar to how a pregnant woman may view themselves, thus the figurines are representative of their creator. Other theories have said the figurines were examples of portable pornography, portable art, or charms, due to their small size (roughly 11cm high). Still other theories have questioned whether the figurines were goddess's or actual human beings. Yet another theory holds that the Venus figurines were symbols of a matriarchy in the hunter gatherer tribes. Regardless of the theories, the consensus is that the figurines had to have some purpose due to their distinctive and unique artistry which is quite intricate.

From a historical perspective the Venus figurines, and their off shoots, occupy a large expanse of time within human history. The idea of a fertility goddess or mother goddess is found through out most (if not all) cultures of the world. Within Europe, the Venus, or female form, has had it's proliferation into the many pantheons of goddesses and gods through out Europe. The Venus of Willendorf itself, does not cease to hide it's feminine aspects, and is quite similar in characteristics to the Gaia figure within Greek mythology. Similarly Venus/Aphrodite (Roman and Greek classical), are both goddesses of fertility, love and sexuality, and are depicted in similar ways as the Venus figurines, (in particular the nudes of Venus). However, the name Venus should not be taken to mean that the figurines were earlier forms of the classically known Venus' (The name Venus figurine was given by the anthropologists who discovered them, not by the Paleolithic peoples).

From the perspective of Diffusion...

Diffusion is a word used to describe the borrowing of cultural elements from one people to another, or the giving of cultural elements from one culture to another. The borrowing of elements can be found in many different places in many different ways. For example, the introduction of wine to Greece, from Crete in trade, eventually led to a wine trade in Greece, and a ritualistic use of the wine (as the originators of Crete had also used it in many rituals). The Venus of Willendorf is at best a sketchy example of diffusion, but serves a definite purpose in the scheme of human history. With the Willendorf figurines, are seen the first images of a Paleolithic female, or goddess figure, and with them the ability of humans to take from their own minds and create an image in the form of art. The Willendorf figurines also and most importantly represent fertility in some form, and can easily be translated to the later fertility goddesses of older civilizations. This on it's own is an example of the diffusion of the Willendorf figurines, however there is a more finite form of diffusion with them. For the figurines to have traveled to such vast territories between Western France and Western Russia, one hunter gatherer tribe could not have necessarily made the journey. There had to be other hunter gatherer groups through out the area. Perhaps it was a systematic trading of the figurines to other cultures which occurred, where specific groups took the icons and crafted them to represent fertility figurines of their own group, or perhaps it was a universal image which only with the advent of sculpture was incorporated into the lives of the Paleolithic peoples. All of the above mentioned are examples of possible diffusion of the Venus figurines, which have played an important role in Paleolithic culture.