These three figures were being created in the world circa 3000 BC:
1. Sleeping Lady of painted terracotta from Malta
This clay figurine known as the Sleeping Lady of Malta is obviously female with its ample breasts and the massive thighs and hips indicative of much larger statues typically made in Malta during this time period. It is presumed that the statue originally had very small feet although they are today broken off. Though the figurine has exaggerated features, it is realistically detailed and the female lies in obvious and believable repose. Originally the 5 inch high statue was painted; traces of the ochre paint remain on the clay surface. Discovered in a funerary pit along with amulets, beads, human, and animal figurines, the piece represents a form of “mother goddess” in a fashion similar to the amply-endowed Venus of Willendorf. Today this piece can be viewed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta.
2. Beautiful Ladies of engraved rock from Chad
These five carved figures – each almost seven feet tall – are exceptional for their size and the naturalistic detail they employ. The female shapes are delineated with clear scraped outlines. Their interiors are intriguingly decorated with carved geometric details that may suggest body painting. Earlier petroglyphs from this region from approximately 10,000 years ago depicted a wide range of animals including elephants, rhinoceroses, crocodiles, lions, hippos, and giraffes, suggesting that this desert climate once was green and viable. This later emphasis (about 5,000 years ago) on carvings of human figures, as shown in the “Beautiful Ladies” design, suggests that man developed a unique sense of himself as separate from humans. According to “30,000 Years of Art,” this area of Chad was hit by drought that forced the inhabitants to migrate to other regions. Today the series of carvings can be viewed in situ at Niola Doa at the Ennedi Plateau in the northeast of Chad.
3. Mother Goddess in terracotta from Pakistan
According to experts, this female figurine is inspired by the earlier Neolithic period (7000-5500 BC). The tiny statuette, less than four inches tall, is part of the Neolithic “mother-goddess” tradition of female figures with over-sized breasts and hips suggesting fertility and motherhood. Also typical of this form are the delicate, small arms that she folds and crosses under her bosom. Made of a clay that when fired turns white, the statue is believed to have originally been covered in paint: black for the elaborately-plaited hair, yellow for the detailed rows of necklace, and brown for the skin. The statue today can be seen in the Islamabad Museum, Islamabad.
Source:
- 30,000 Years of Art. London: Phaidon Press Limited, 2007.
