Venus of Willendorf Pentacle | Earth Mother Pentacle
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The Venus of Willendorf Symbolism / Folklore / History
Dated between 30,000 and 25,000 BC, The 'Venus of Willendorf'
is the name that was given to a female figurine that was found in 1908 by
an archeologist named Joseph Szombathy in a Aurignacian loess deposit near
the town of Willendorf in Austria. This statue is an important icon of prehistory.
Archeologists have suggested many different ways of understanding its significance
for the nomadic society which made it. The first suggestion is that it was
a "Venus figure" or "Goddess," used as a symbol of fertility.
Apart from being female, the statue has an enlarged stomach and breasts,
its pubic area is greatly emphasized, probably serving as a representative
of procreativity, and the red ochre pigment covering it has been thought
to symbolize or serve as menstrual blood seen as a life giving agent. The
second suggestion is that the figurine may have served as a good luck charm.
Its diminutive size led archaeologists to assume that it may have been carried
by the men during their hunting missions in which it served not only as
a reminder of their mate back at home but also as a charm to bring them
success in their hunting. This is further strengthened by the facelessness
of the figurine giving it an air of mystery and anonymity which suggests
that it may have been of more importance as an object rather than as a person.
Also, the figurine's hair is braided in seven concentric circles, seven
in later times being regarded as a magic number used to bring about good
luck. A third possible significance put forth is that of the figurine serving
as a mother goddess (earth mother or female deity). This comes from a suggestion
that the statue was a woman whose specialness was indicated in her obesity
since women in a hunter gatherer society would probably not have had the
opportunity to get as obese. With all the suggestions that have been put
forward about the significance of the sculpture, tentative conclusions can
be made about the social, political and religious beliefs of the foraging
society in which it was found. The use of the figurine as a deity suggests
the practice of religious ceremonies to ensure the success of the tribe.
As an earth goddess, it may have played the role of ensuring a continuous
supply of food in the society. Along with this comes a possible belief in
magic if the figurine was intended to ensure hunting success. Politically,
it can be speculated that women due to their nurturing capabilities might
have had an esteem role in the society. The society may have thus been more
matriarchal rather than patriarchal as suggested by Jacob Bachojen (1815-1887),
"Matriachate or gynaecocracy found among tribal peoples, where authority
in both the family and the tribe was in the hands of the women, was to be
associated with the worship of a supreme female earth deity" (Witcombe).
Witcombe, Christopher L.C.E. Stone Age Women: "The Venus of Willendorf".
Pentacle Symbolism
The Pentacle or Pentagram is a 5 pointed star
that is often, but not always, encircled with the circle of Unity. It represents
the domination of Spirit or Divine Will over base matter, and the elements
of Spirit, Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The pentacle has been a symbol of
protection and spiritual growth for millennia. At its points are the stages
of Life: birth, initiation, consummation, repose, and death, with the circle
bringing us back to birth in the cycle of reincarnation.
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