In addition to Facebook, Venus of Willendorf has been too much for churchmen as well.
The Historia documentary explains that the sexualization of the statue is simply a misinterpretation. Over
Venus of Willendorf is a miniature sculpture depicting a naked woman. It is an approximately 29,000-year-old large limestone statue that still stirs up controversy. It is told in TV1’s Historia documentary Venus of Willendorf.
Facebook classified the figure as porn and removed the photo showing it from its site. In 2018, the topic caused an international uproar. The Natural History Museum in Vienna, whose collections include the iconic sculpture, took a disapproving stance on it. At one time, the museum also organized excavations in Willendorf, Austria, where a female figure was excavated from the ground in 1908 from a depth of about 1.5 meters.
According to experts, Venus of Willendorf was unsuccessfully named after the Greek goddess of love. Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna, General
The work, which originates from the Paleolithic, i.e. older Stone Age, aroused surprise and aggravation even when it was found. Nudity in particular caused misinterpretations. That’s why the 11.1 cm tall figure was named Venus. However, according to the documentary, the clichéd and sexually tinged name says more about the history of the discoverers than the object itself.
The shapely body, bare breasts and clearly distinct vulva of Willendorf’s Venus may have led the discoverers’ interpretations in a fertile and sexual direction. The same has happened with other female characters.
In the documentary, the life of ancient people is also explored through the fictional story of Jama (left). Over
– The discoverers of the first female sculptures 150 years ago were mainly men and many of them churchmen. The nudity of the sculptures must have been quite a challenge for them, archaeologist Brigitte Röder assumes in the document.
– To put it a bit maliciously, an archaeologist only finds what he knows. It’s a problem. When studying a time that differs from our own culture and world of experience, our perception is probably lacking.
Venus has an important place in modern research, where things from the Paleolithic period are clarified.
Venus of Willendorf today on TV1 at 19:00. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.