Venus of Laussel

The Venus of Laussel (even Venus with a horn; double Venus à la corne ) is a 25,000 -year-old and about 42 cm tall female figure made ​​of limestone. The bas-relief ( double bas relief ) comes from the archaeological culture of the Gravettian. It was founded in 1911 as part of the Abri from Laussel near the village of Marquay ( Dep. Dordogne ) of surgeon J.-G. Lalanne found.

The figure belongs thematically and chronologically, although the so-called Venusfigurinen, but unlike the latter no small work of art, but a chiselled into the limestone rock bas-relief. The figure was probably originally painted with red ocher, which should spell out still see traces. In his right hand the naked Venus holding a bison horn. This is provided with notches 13, which is sometimes interpreted as the number of menstrual cycles a year, or associated with the moon phases. The left hand is on her stomach. The head is faceless. The navel is visible. There is a Y-shaped mark on the right hip.

The sculpture was on a several cubic meters of rock that was broken out of the roof of the shelters. In the immediate vicinity remaining reliefs have been found. This relief work was carried out in 40 to 50 centimeters in size, transportable limestone slabs. Due to the proximity of the five reliefs of this place was a kind of Cella, ie as a primitive sanctuary, interpreted.

In the four other reliefs from Laussel is the following representations:

  • The so-called Venus of Berlin (French: Vénus de Berlin). This figure was sold at the Ethnological Museum in Berlin- Dahlem and is lost during the Second World War. Again, a woman is depicted with a horn. A relatively poor copy of this relief is in the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin, another at the Musée d' Aquitaine in Bordeaux. The best extant copy is in the Pre-and Early History Collection of the University of Erlangen- Nuremberg.
  • A male figure in Jägerpose (French: Le chasseur ). This classic interpretation is controversial, it can just as easily be a young female person.
  • A Venus with a head covering (French Vénus à la tête quadrillée ).
  • A relief with two people, one of them is certainly female (French Personages opposées ). Maybe a maternity was shown.
Marquay, Dordogne
800471
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