f the many traits of being human, we find that through art our nature to create, although in many forms far surpass our mortality.  Our ancestors and in all their mystical wonders left us beautiful imagery, scribes, ancient pottery and primitive tools not mentioning passed down traditions, such as dance, ceremonies and other sorts of beauty that maintained it immortality through the ages.

The two pieces of ancient art that will be the topic of this post are The Venus of Willendorf, Austria created around the time 22,000 – 21,000 B.C.E. and the Woman and Man of Cernavoda, Romania created somewhere around 3,500 B.C.E. .(Stokstad, 2007, p. 24 & 29)  The two pieces were discovered in the places they are to be believed created in and add as some sort of definition of the cultures that precede us as well as raise some interesting questions.

Joseph Szombathy, found this remarkable statuette in 1908 A.D., in a loess deposit near Willendorf, Austria.  The statuette stands only 4-3/8 inches, and was carved out of limestone, colored using red ochre.  (Koeller, 1996-9)  Judging by the size of the breast, stomach and the lower female region of the sculptor, scholars believe that the Woman of Willendorf has something to do with the representation of fertility.  Also that the red ochre she was painted with might have something to do with a woman’s menstrual cycle.  In addition, this faceless statuette’s crown is adorned with seven braids.  Seven has always been known as a very mystical number in history, maybe the seven braids stand for the seven days between moon phases, where as in the early European Occult believe woman to be affiliated with the moon and men with the sun.  This ancient piece of art also symbolizes the emphasis on woman playing an important role in earlier societies.

The Woman and Man of Cernavoda, Romania, are very interesting pieces of Romania’s ancient culture in art form.  These two statuettes stand 4-1/2 inches high, created out of carved ceramic and scholars know very little of their meaning.  (Stokstad, 2007, p. 29)  Depending on how they are placed according to each other, many theories can be made as to their relationship to one another.  As for my thoughts on these two figurines, because they can be stood up in a stable position unlike the Woman of Willendorf who scholars believe as an artifact meant to carry, the couple of Cernavoda where meant to be placed and admired.  As for how the man sits on a rock shows his relationship to relying on the fat of the land per se as well as his purgatory like position.  His elbows rest on his knees and his hands hold up his head as if he is in deep thought as well as his dependency.  His body is lean and may show him being the active member of the culture as far as hunting and gathering may go.  The woman on the other hand is has no seat and is kneeling on one knee, her hands lean on her right lifted knee, maybe symbolizing her connection between the heaven and earth, her body is also very pronounced showing that she is a symbol of fertility.  Her head is held high without any other support besides her neck showing her strength as well as perception, which is also shown by the hole in the middle of her forehead (representation of the third eye.)  The woman also looks to be smiling and the man seems to be very solemn, this may also be an indication of their relation to their early role in their Neolithic society.

In conclusion, our ancestors from all across the earth have demonstrated their need to create and express their time as well as demonstrated how their creations can communicate to our current times, almost immortalizing certain aspects of their culture.  In addition, teaching us now of their old ways as well as raising some interesting questions from a time there were no written scriptures or known written language from the two ancient societies mentioned.  Through these artifacts, we may be able to unlock the unknown treasured knowledge of ancient cultures as well as the essences and link to how today society came to be.

References

1.      Koeller, D. W. (1996-9).  The Woman of Willendorf.  Retrieved April 7, 2009, from Www.thenagain.info Web site: http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/World/Willendorf.html

2.      Stokstad, M. (2007). Art before the written word. In S. Touborg (Ed.), Art: A brief history (Third ed., p. 29). Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall.

3.      Stokstad, M. (2007).  Art before the written word.  In S. Touborg (Ed.), Art: A brief history (Third ed., p. 24 & 29).  Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall.