Venus figurine

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Aurignacian-Gravettian sculpture

Venus of Věstonice

The Venus of Willendorf, a small Upper Paleolithic limestone figurine with exaggerated female features and textured head, displayed against a black background.

Venus of Willendorf

Venus figurine

archaeology

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July 14, 2026

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Aurignacian-Gravettian sculpture — Aurignacian-Gravettian sculpture Stylized “Venus” figurines carved in ivory, Aurignacian-Gravettian (c. 24,800 bce), from Dolní Věstonice, Mikulov, Moravia, Czech Republic; in the Moravian Museum, Brno, Czech Republic. Height (left) 8.3 cm and (right) 8.6 cm.

The term "Venus figurine" refers to small, portable statuettes, primarily of women, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period. The most famous example is the Venus of Willendorf, discovered in Austria and dated to approximately 28,000–25,000 BCE. These figures, often made of stone and tinted with ochre, typically emphasize secondary sexual characteristics like breasts and buttocks, while facial features and feet are often neglected or absent.

While their exact purpose remains debated, theories suggest they may have served as fertility symbols, good luck charms, mother goddess representations, or even as objects for self-inspection by women. Ethnological analogies propose they could also represent protective spirits or animal rulers. Unlike the ancient Roman goddess Venus, these prehistoric figurines are not directly linked to specific deities or myths, and no clear continuum connects them to later Neolithic figures.

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Cro-Magnon
Their human figures generally depict large-breasted, wide-hipped, and often obviously pregnant women, from which it is assumed that these figures had significance in fertility rites. Numerous depictions of animals are found in Cro-Magnon cave paintings throughout France and Spain at sites such as Lascaux, Eyzies-de-Tayac, and Altamira,…
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Their human figures generally depict large-breasted, wide-hipped, and often obviously pregnant women, from which it is assumed that these figures had significance in fertility rites. Numerous depictions of animals are found in Cro-Magnon cave paintings throughout France and Spain at sites such as Lascaux, Eyzies-de-Tayac, and Altamira,…
Read More

amulet
…amulets in burials, and so-called Venus figurines dating to about 25,000 bc may be among the earliest of man-made amulets. The MacGregor papyrus of ancient Egypt lists 75 amulets. One of the commonest was the scarab beetle, worn by the living and dead alike. The scarab (q.v.) symbolized life—perhaps because…
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…amulets in burials, and so-called Venus figurines dating to about 25,000 bc may be among the earliest of man-made amulets. The MacGregor papyrus of ancient Egypt lists 75 amulets. One of the commonest was the scarab beetle, worn by the living and dead alike. The scarab (q.v.) symbolized life—perhaps because…
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Paleolithic Period
Paleolithic art
…referred to by scholars as Venus figures. These small stylized figures are characteristically rotund, emphasizing parts of the female body associated with sexuality and fertility; many are so abstract that only protuberant breasts and exaggerated hips are clearly distinguishable.
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…referred to by scholars as Venus figures. These small stylized figures are characteristically rotund, emphasizing parts of the female body associated with sexuality and fertility; many are so abstract that only protuberant breasts and exaggerated hips are clearly distinguishable.
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history of Europe
Upper Paleolithic developments
…most striking are the so-called Venus figurines, stylized representations of females with large breasts and buttocks, which show a marked degree of similarity from France to Russia. There are also thousands of small stone plaques engraved with representations of humans and animals.
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…most striking are the so-called Venus figurines, stylized representations of females with large breasts and buttocks, which show a marked degree of similarity from France to Russia. There are also thousands of small stone plaques engraved with representations of humans and animals.
Read More