Prehistoric Feminine Icons

In this blog post I’d like to take you with me on a recent visit to the special exhibition “Arts and Prehistory”* in the Museum of Mankind (Musée de l’Homme) in Paris.**

Like the Feminine Power in London exhibition I wrote about last year, this is another ode to human imagination and creativity in connection to the mystery of life.

The exhibition features women figurines and cave paintings from dating between 26.000-34.000 years old, and I wonder how these prehistoric icons can inspire us to look at female bodies today…

As an anthropologist, ethnographic museums like these are among my favourites, with superb displays taking you on a journey through the incredible diversity of human culture, art, biology, evolution, medicine, spirituality and ritual across the world. Masks, mythology, ritual practice, divination and healing tools, what’s not to like?

The Exhibition

Did you know that the female body engraved in rock walls, sculpted from mammoth teeth or bones, antlers, soapstone, limestone or even wood, is one of the most prominent ‘topics’ of our artistic ancestors?

The exhibition displays women figurines and cave paintings from all over Europe, Russia and the Middle East dating between 26.000-34.000 years old. To date, over a 100 such statuettes have been discovered, and archeologists dubbed them ‘Venuses’, in honour of the Greek/Roman Goddess.

Sculptures either emphasise the voluptuousness and curviness of the female body, with round bellies, buttocks and thighs and voluminous breasts, or display a stylised vulva with a simple triangle. Sometimes the focus is on the torso only, without arms or legs. Sometimes they appear Maiden-like with flat bellies, other times pregnant, or with empty, saggy breasts. Each is beautiful in her own right, in one of the phases of womanhood.

Like so much of the prehistoric art, we don’t know why they feature so prominently – indeed they appear much more often than representations of male bodies! Perhaps as a matriarchic icon they referred to social organisation, or they served a fertility talisman during rituals or to mark births… Perhaps they were portraits of actual women the artists loved. 

Whatever the reason of these prehistoric artists, such “iconic representation of femininity” (quote from the exhibition displays) were so important that our ancestors spent precious time on carving them.

Meeting the Goddess

Although there were many more, the next three Venuses feature prominently in the exhibition. 

Musings

It was such a joy to meander through this ancient ode to womanhood. I am really curious to hear what these images bring up for you. And we can ask ourselves:

• How can our ancestors empower us in the 21st century?
• How can these prehistoric icons inspire us to look at female bodies today?
• How can they help us to love our bodies just a little bit more, with the flabby and knobbly bits, the scars, stretch marks and croaky joints? 

I think, whatever her age, shape or size, the view of a woman at home in her body is one of the most beautiful things in the world. One of my earliest ballet teachers, Monique Diederen, told us “Feel beautiful, then you are beautiful.” Well before I knew about quantum physics, she taught me about the power of spirit over matter in this very simple yet potent way. 

It is not what (most) men or the beauty industry are inclined to tell you, but there is nothing as enticing as the twinkle in a woman’s eyes who embodies the profound secret of the female mysteries… 

Reconnect with that inner spark inside you. I know it’s there, however deep you might think it’s buried. It’s more potent than any make-up, body cream or surgery. 

Call on the power of maiden, mother and crone regardless of your life-stage, and let these strong female archetypes infuse your womanhood, femininity, sexuality, and mothering (whether or not you have physical children). Confidently radiate your beauty from within. You are one helluva spark!

References

Image Credits: Eline Kieft, Musée de l’Homme, Exhibition Art & Préhistoire, visited 14 January 2023.

*) This exhibition runs until 22 May 2023 so should you find yourself in Paris before then, I can highly recommend it!

**) I did reflect on the name of the museum, and like the English equivalent ‘mankind’, the word in French refers to one gender only (homme = man). Especially in light of exhibitions that strongly celebrate womanhood and femininity, perhaps it’s time to rename the museum ‘Musée de l’Homme et Femme’ or another more inspired alternative!

***) https://www.worldhistory.org/Venus_Figurine/ 

Read my previous post on Re-Anointing the Body, discussing feminine and masculine spirituality, the notions of cultural, challenged and unsafe bodies, before shifting to your beloved body and sacred self touch.

Read more about the Triple Goddess in her Maiden, Mother and Crone form in an earlier post.

Kieft, Eline (2022). Dancing in the Muddy Temple. A Moving Spirituality of Land and Body. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books.

Events

Bio

Eline Kieft danced from a young age, including rigorous classical and contemporary training to become a professional dancer. She then studied anthropology, deepening her fascination with worldwide similarities between indigenous traditions regarding intangible aspects of reality and other ways of knowing, including embodied epistemologies and shamanic techniques. 

She completed her PhD in dance anthropology at Roehampton University, trained in depth with the Scandinavian Centre for Shamanic Studies and the School of Movement Medicine. Eline worked at the Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE) at Coventry University for five years, where she created a Somatics Toolkit for Ethnographers, and pioneered soulful academic pedagogy. Her recent book Dancing in the Muddy Temple: A Moving Spirituality of Land and Body was well received as a unique blend of theory and practice and a medicine for our times. 

She is now a full-time change-maker and facilitates deep transformation through coaching and courses both online and in person. Her approach The Way of the Wild Soul offers a set of embodied, creative, and spiritual tools to re-connect with inner strength and navigate life’s challenges with confidence. 

Website: https://www.elinekieft.com Also on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn