Cast of Venus of Willendorf

Caat of Venus of Willendorf, Austrian

The Venus of Willendorf is a Paleolithic fertility goddess uncovered in Willendorf, Austria. Her large rounded features, such as her stomach, bottom, and breast are idealized characteristics in a fertile woman. There are conflicting ideas as to whether this figurine is portraying realistic women in the Upper Paleolithic Era or the representation of an ideal woman. In recent years the figurine has been redefined as an example of obesity in the Prehistoric Era. All three of these arguments recognize that roundness of the body and fat are characteristics of fertility. This figurine showed that in the Upper Paleolithic era a fertile woman is an ideal woman, which is a fact that still remains true across a wide variety of world cultures.