The Venus of Willendorf

Illustration

Jessica Liew
by Oke
published on 07 July 2017
The Venus of Willendorf Download Full Size Image

The Venus of Willendorf is a limestone statuette likely carved between 24,000 and 22,000 years ago, in the Upper Paleolithic, making it one of the oldest pieces of art in the world. The faceless, voluptuous, female figure is considered typical of this type of prehistoric art, though surviving examples are rare. The 11.1 cm figurine would easily fit in the palm of the hand, allowing for easy transport by the nomadic peoples of Ice Age Europe and a possible indication that it may have been used in some sort of fertility ritual. It was found in Willendorf, Austria, in 1908 and can be viewed at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna.

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APA Style

Oke. (2017, July 07). The Venus of Willendorf. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6865/the-venus-of-willendorf/

Chicago Style

Oke. "The Venus of Willendorf." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified July 07, 2017. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6865/the-venus-of-willendorf/.

MLA Style

Oke. "The Venus of Willendorf." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 07 Jul 2017. Web. 31 Oct 2024.

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