The Venus of Laussel is an 18.11-inch-high (46.0-centimetre) limestonebas-relief of a nude woman. It is painted with red ochre and was carved into the limestone of a rock shelter (Abri de Laussel) in the commune of Marquay, in the Dordogne department of south-western France. The carving is associated with the GravettianUpper Paleolithic culture (approximately 25,000 years old). It is currently displayed in the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux, France.
Venus of Laussel in Bordeaux museum.Detail of the head.Detail of the right arm and the horn.Detail of the left arm and hand.
The figure holds a bison horn, or possibly a cornucopia, in one hand, which has thirteen notches. She has large breasts, a great stomach, and wide hips. There is a "Y" on her thigh and her faceless head is turned toward the horn. The lower relief was covered in red ochre.[1]
Discovery and displayedit
The relief was discovered in 1911 by Jean-Gaston Lalanne, a physician. It was carved into large block of limestone in a rock shelter (abri de Laussel) at the commune of Marquay in the Dordogne department of south-western France. The limestone block fell off the wall of the shelter. It was brought to the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux, France.
Meaningedit
The figure and the horn are considered significant in figurative studies of Paleolithic art. There are many similarly formed "goddess figures", such as Venus of Willendorf, said to be of potential significance in Eurasian prehistoric religion.[2][3][4][5] The color and the number of notches on the horn may symbolize the number of moons or the number of menstrual cycles in one year, or the number of days from menstruation to ovulation.[1]
^ abThompson, William Irwin. (1981). The time falling bodies take to light : mythology, sexuality, and the origins of culture. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 105. ISBN0-312-80510-1. OCLC 6890108.
^Hayden, Brian (17 December 2003). "Complexity in the Hunter-Gatherer World". Shamans, Sorcerers, and Saints: A Prehistory of Religion. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books. pp. 153–155. ISBN9781588341686.
^Soffer O, Adovasio JM, Hyland DC (2000). "The "Venus" Figurines: Textiles, Basketry, Gender, and Status in the Upper Paleolithic". Current Anthropology. 41 (4): 511–537. doi:10.1086/317381. S2CID 162026727.
^Eisler, Riane Tennenhaus (1987). The chalice and the blade : our history, our future (1st ed.). Cambridge [Mass.]: Harper & Row. p. 5. ISBN0-06-250287-5. OCLC 15222627.
^Neumann, Erich (4 May 2015). The Great Mother : an analysis of the archetype. Manheim, Ralph, 1907-1992 (First Princeton classics ed.). Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN978-1-4008-6610-6. OCLC 908042725.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Further readingedit
Eisler, Riane (1995), Sacred Pleasure: Sex, Myth, and the Politics of the Body, HarperCollins Publishers Inc., NY.
Marshack, Alexander (1971). The Roots of Civilization, Moyer Bell Ltd, Mount Kisco, NY.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Venus of Laussel.
Pictures of the Venus of Laussel and further reliefs from Laussel
November 27, 2023
venus, laussel, inch, high, centimetre, limestone, relief, nude, woman, painted, with, ochre, carved, into, limestone, rock, shelter, abri, laussel, commune, marquay, dordogne, department, south, western, france, carving, associated, with, gravettian, upper, p. The Venus of Laussel is an 18 11 inch high 46 0 centimetre limestone bas relief of a nude woman It is painted with red ochre and was carved into the limestone of a rock shelter Abri de Laussel in the commune of Marquay in the Dordogne department of south western France The carving is associated with the Gravettian Upper Paleolithic culture approximately 25 000 years old It is currently displayed in the Musee d Aquitaine in Bordeaux France Venus of Laussel in Bordeaux museum Detail of the head Detail of the right arm and the horn Detail of the left arm and hand Contents 1 Description 2 Discovery and display 3 Meaning 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription editThe figure holds a bison horn or possibly a cornucopia in one hand which has thirteen notches She has large breasts a great stomach and wide hips There is a Y on her thigh and her faceless head is turned toward the horn The lower relief was covered in red ochre 1 Discovery and display editThe relief was discovered in 1911 by Jean Gaston Lalanne a physician It was carved into large block of limestone in a rock shelter abri de Laussel at the commune of Marquay in the Dordogne department of south western France The limestone block fell off the wall of the shelter It was brought to the Musee d Aquitaine in Bordeaux France Meaning editThe figure and the horn are considered significant in figurative studies of Paleolithic art There are many similarly formed goddess figures such as Venus of Willendorf said to be of potential significance in Eurasian prehistoric religion 2 3 4 5 The color and the number of notches on the horn may symbolize the number of moons or the number of menstrual cycles in one year or the number of days from menstruation to ovulation 1 See also editArt of the Upper Paleolithic List of Stone Age artReferences edit a b Thompson William Irwin 1981 The time falling bodies take to light mythology sexuality and the origins of culture New York St Martin s Press p 105 ISBN 0 312 80510 1 OCLC 6890108 Hayden Brian 17 December 2003 Complexity in the Hunter Gatherer World Shamans Sorcerers and Saints A Prehistory of Religion Washington DC Smithsonian Books pp 153 155 ISBN 9781588341686 Soffer O Adovasio JM Hyland DC 2000 The Venus Figurines Textiles Basketry Gender and Status in the Upper Paleolithic Current Anthropology 41 4 511 537 doi 10 1086 317381 S2CID 162026727 Eisler Riane Tennenhaus 1987 The chalice and the blade our history our future 1st ed Cambridge Mass Harper amp Row p 5 ISBN 0 06 250287 5 OCLC 15222627 Neumann Erich 4 May 2015 The Great Mother an analysis of the archetype Manheim Ralph 1907 1992 First Princeton classics ed Princeton New Jersey ISBN 978 1 4008 6610 6 OCLC 908042725 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Further reading editEisler Riane 1995 Sacred Pleasure Sex Myth and the Politics of the Body HarperCollins Publishers Inc NY Marshack Alexander 1971 The Roots of Civilization Moyer Bell Ltd Mount Kisco NY External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Venus of Laussel Pictures of the Venus of Laussel and further reliefs from Laussel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Venus of Laussel amp oldid 1131529072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
