Venus figurines have been discovered throughout much of Eurasia, most dating between 11,000 to 40,000 BCE*.  These saucy ladies have been the subject of much study and conjecture.  Were they fertility symbols? Some sort of Mother Earth/Mother Nature goddesses? Or were they merely meant to depict womanhood in full flower (so to speak); a visual testimony to the artist’s admiration for the female form in all her glory? We can only guess, but it is fun to speculate on the motive(s) and mindset(s) of their creators.

*BCE = Before Common Era

(Venus Figurine in header by Neanderthal Joe)