She is an Earth Mother. The Venus of Willendorf, circa 28.000 – 25,000 BC, is a limestone, red ochre fertility figurine. She stands 11cm in height. Found in 1908 by archeologist Joseph Szombathy in an Aurignacian loess deposit near the town of Willendorf in Austria, she is now housed in the Natural History Museum in Vienna.
She has sparked quite some interest as to her purpose. Is she a fertility figurine or goddess? Perhaps she is an early example of a faceless ‘selfie’. Whatever she is, experts do not seem to have been able to reach a consensus.
Other similar figurines have been found elsewhere, but this particular one seems to be the most famous and well known. She came to my attention again just this last week. I found a crochet pattern to make my very own Venus of Willendorf – and there she is on the top right. She is gorgeous, as only an ancient goddess can be. and has found a home inside my amethyst cave. The perfect place for a Paleolithic woman.
I have some affinity with her of course, as I myself, have often been told I am an Earth Mother. Not to mention the fact that *blush* there is somewhat of a physical resemblance as well. Cuddly is the endearment my family use in reference to me. I am told that I give great hugs too *a deeper blush*.
© Raili Tanska
Steps for Peace
The earth is our mother, we must take care of her.
Lakota Sioux
Photo credit: Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Photo by Matthias Kabel via Wikimedia Commons,
GNU Free Documentation License.
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soulgifts - Telling Tales 
You do have to wonder!!! I doubt the age but who knows..
All grandmas ,assuming you are one, should be ” soft”.LOL
LOL! I am that – but not a grandma yet.
Lol blush ☺️
Yeah 🙂
wow that is amazing 🙂
Thank you !
You’ve invoked the goddess into your home – how wonderful! I hope she knows how lucky she is. That is a beautiful crochet depiction of the original. I enjoyed reading the discussion about her significance too, it guides you through the archaeological process very simply.
Thanks, Safar. It is an interesting read isn’t it. I must say I was very pleased with the final result. A bit fiddly to do given her size. She has settled in very well 🙂
There are lots of examples of similar one Sheena Na Gig comes to mind – often with very marked genitalia. P J Harvey did a great song about her.
Really? Will have to look that up. thanks 🙂
I love your Venus Raili :))))
Thanks Linda! I do too 🙂
So much, in fact, that she is here to stay 🙂
awesome!!!! :)))
LOVE!!!!!
Thanks 🙂 🙂 🙂
I saw the amendment also, you teach me things I want to learn
Oh good, I’ve always asked to teach :). Not really, kidding. But happy to bring new knowledge into the light
I was going to say you should teach but guess what? You already have been for years
Awww, thanks 🙂
So talented!!!!
Awww – you too can do this!
Nope you are the true weaver in the family
But I need helps and apprentices:)
I’d be your apprentice any day! All I need is to marry someone in Australia and i’m yours for life!
“Not to mention the fact that *blush* there is somewhat of a physical resemblance as well.” Hey! We’re twins! What do you think? a 54 triple H? 😉 It’s crazy that you found a pattern for that. Where’d you come across it?
Very possibly !! I found it on an arigurumi blog – that’s a particular type of crochet. One of those treasures you stumble across now and then 🙂
I like the idea of her being a faceless selfie. I often think that archaeologists make too many assumptions 🙂
They like to posture and conjecturalise a lot – make a splash with their views 🙂
I remember seeing a series about dinasaurs, on TV, years ago. They reconstructed prehistoric life as if they knew that that was exactly how it was. I don’t think there was a disclaimer to say that some of it was guesswork..
Probably most of it. Educated conjecture…
Beautiful! Double blessings of the Mother and amethyst, how wonderful..I have a slight case of crochet envy, I never learned! 😢😸
You totally should! Soooo much easier than knitting. Impossible to drop stitches 🙂