Venus figurines is an umbrella term for a number of prehistoric items, mostly in statuette form, of obese or heavily pregnant women from the Aurignacian or Gravettian period of the upper Palaeolithic. Like many such artifacts, their true cultural meaning may never be known; however, given that at the time of their construction human society would not have the same tendency towards obesity as it has today (as foodstuffs, particularly those which are fattening, would have been scarce as farming had not yet been invented), they may be emblems of security and success, fertility icons, or even direct representations of various goddesses themselves.

Examples of Venus figurines include:

• Venus of Berekhet Ram
• Venus of Tan-Tan
• Venus of Bassempouy
• Venus of Willendorf
• Venus of Laussel
• Venus of Lespugue
• Venus of Dolni Vestonice

See also figurine.

External links

• Venus figures from the Stone Age
• Images of women in ancient art
• http://perso.wanadoo.fr/deesse-mere/g40venus.htm
• Venus figurines through time - the mother goddess