On the home page of my main site (you did know I have a main site, right?) you’ll see the figurine variously known as Venus of Willendorf, Willendorf Goddess, or Willendorf Woman.
Willendorf is one of many of a similar type, all of approximately the same age (about 27,000 years old). (My personal favorite is Lespugue.)
It has been said that female representations will invariably be interpreted as “fertility fetishes,” while male representations will be seen as important. Ultimately, calling these statuettes “Venus figures” has come to be seen as dismissive, patronizing, and patriarchal. By pigeon-holing them we bring a modern interpretation without, necessarily, understanding.
“Willendorf Goddess” is a term favored by Women’s Spirituality groups, but archeologists today prefer “Willendorf Woman,” acknowledging that they really don’t know how to classify her.
What these figures have in common is their small size (Willendorf is 4 and 3/8 inches long), exaggerated breasts and bellies, undetailed faces, and lack of feet. The feet thing is generally believed to be so that the figure could be placed in the ground. The lack of a face tends towards an interpretation that the statues are “Woman” or “Fecundity” rather than an individual.
I love worshiping Willendorf as a Primal Force, Original Goddess. I love being with her raw, earthy nature. Placed directly into the earth, she is small enough that tall grasses hide her, but in winter, when grassy places are bare, she appears, reminding us that the earth will provide.
Dance as though you are Willendorf; belly forward, letting gravity pull you towards the earth. This is not a time for fancy footwork! She tells us that Pagan worship is not just of the Earth, but in the earth.
I have a Willendorf that was made by an on-line pagan friend, and it just fits so comfortably in my hand! It radiates quite a vibe, too! I don’t really see the term “venus” as being patronizing, but rather just in line with the sacred feminine.
The term “venus” as used by archeologists was certainly patronizing. It was the finite, limited realm that Goddesses were allowed to be in charge of. Gods got creation, storms, the sun, power, social change, death, law…just about everything else, really, and goddesses got fertility.
Your timing is great. Austria is celebrating the Centenary of the discovery of the “Venus” of Willendorf ” with museum exhibits, a 3D postage stamp, chocolates, etc. See my August 8 post on Medusa Coils
medusacoils.blogspot.com/2008/08/austrians-celebrate-anniversary-of.html