Prehistoric Bellies

This is an interactive map of bellies carved during the Prehistoric Period (circa 2.5 million years to 1,200 B.C).

Prehistoric Bellies
Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük, Turkey (circa 6,000 BCE) Marble female figure - Athens, Greece (circa 4,000 BCE) Jomon Venus - Nagono, Japan (circa 3,000 BCE) Venus of Willendorf - Willendorf, Austria (circa 28,000 BCE) Seated Figure - Veracruz, Mexico (circa 2,400 BCE) Venus of Dolní Věstonice - Brno, Moravia (circa 29,000 BCE) Venus of Gagarino - Gagarino, Russia (circa 20,000 BCE) The Venus of Hohle Fels - Schelklingen, Germany (circa 40,000 BCE) Venus of Savignano - Modena, Italy (24,000 BCE) Venus of Berekhat Ram - Golan Heights, Israel (circa 230,000 BCE) The Venus of Tan-Tan - Tan-Tan, Morrocco (circa 20000,000 BCE)

Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük, Turkey (circa 6,000 BCE)

Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük: Museum of Anatolian (Turkey)

This beautiful bellied woman was found in modern Turkey. She may represent a Mother Goddess or celebrate women of status for the ancient Neolithic civilization.

Marble female figure - Athens, Greece (circa 4,000 BCE)

Marble female figure (Ancient Greece - 4000 BCE)

Made of marble, she was found in Greece and was created most likely 4,500 to 4,000 BCE.

Jomon Venus - Nagono, Japan (circa 3,000 BCE)

Named the Jomon Venus, she may represent fertility during the Middle Bronze Age in Japan. She may also just be a female interpretation.

Venus of Willendorf - Willendorf, Austria (circa 28,000 BCE)

The Venus of Willendorf is cited in numerous fat-liberation and fat-acceptance texts like Christy Harrison's Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Life, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness through Intuitive Eating.  Researchers are unsure of the purpose of the statue. She has been censored on Facebook due to her nipples and vulva.

Seated Figure - Veracruz, Mexico (circa 2,400 BCE)

Most likely a baby, this Olmec statue may be a royal or a supernatural human. The bulbous belly suggests youth and prosperity.

Venus of Dolní Věstonice - Brno, Moravia (circa 29,000 BCE)

Venus of Dolní Věstonice was found in then Czechoslovakia - now Czech Republic or Czechia - in 1925. In 2004, a scan showed a fingerprint of a 7 to 15-year-old human (although, she/he was not believed to have made the work).

Venus of Gagarino - Gagarino, Russia (circa 20,000 BCE)

The Venus of Gagarino is one of six figures found by farmers in Gagarino, Russia.  The other figures are the "Praying Venus," "Tall-Thin Venus," "Very Tall-Thin Venus," and "Gargarino Double Venus." You can find out more about them all here at Visual Art Cork. 

The Venus of Hohle Fels - Schelklingen, Germany (circa 40,000 BCE)

Hotly debated, this babe is named Venus of Hohle Fels. She has reignited arguments of her purpose and Prehistoric views of body fat, especially in the breast, thigh, and belly area.

Venus of Savignano - Modena, Italy (24,000 BCE)

Venus of Savignano was found in 1925. She is one of fifteen Venus figurines found in Italy.

Venus of Berekhat Ram - Golan Heights, Israel (circa 230,000 BCE)

Found between Israel and Syria, she is one of the oldest known mobile art pieces (and bellies).

The Venus of Tan-Tan - Tan-Tan, Morrocco (circa 20000,000 BCE)

One of the oldest pre-historic art pieces, she has met much controversy due to scholars believing that perhaps this is a natural phenomenon and not a sculpture. Yet, other artwork in the area suggests that Tan-Tan was art, and not just lucky rock formation.