Female Figure Analysis

Throughout history the woman figure has been depicted in many ways. One of the most prominent way in which the female figure is seen is as a reference to fertility. Another much more appealing aspect of femininity is its use to represent ferocious deities. This essay will examine the different ways in which the female figure has been depicted by examining four pieces of art. The four pieces I will focus on will be: Female figurine found at Dolni., Innana/Ishtar with Lions and Owls, The Gorgon, Medusa, from the west pediment for the Artemis Temple, and Coatlicue, from Aztec temple precinct at Tenochtitlán. (first lecture 1 min)The first example of how women are portrayed throughout time is exemplified by the female figure found at Dolni Vestonice,
Czech. This figure is the first known representation of a human figure made by a human, and it dates back to 29,000-25,000 BCE. There is speculation among scholars as to what the function this figure served. Many think it served as a fertility figure; women hoping to reproduce would carry these figures around. The reason for this theory is the figures rounded body, prominent low hanging breast, and the lack of detail in the face.
Another theory is that these figures were dolls and that their purpose was to depict a maternal figure. Yet another theory for this figure is that it served an erotic purpose.
Even though there is no clear answer as to what the true function of these figures was, the most supported theory is that they were fertility figures. Due to their large breasts, hips, round body, and lack of facial detail. (first lecture 10 )The second example is Innana/Ishtar with Lions and Owls, this piece dates to 2000 BCE and it was found in Sumer, Mesopotamia.
The people inhabiting Mesopotamian adhered to a polytheist religion. Due to this fact it is speculated that the purpose of this piece was to representation of Innana/ Ishta. This relief is thought to have been a shrine image meant for worship of the goddess Innana/Ishtar. She was a Mesopotamian goddess of love, fertility, and war. The piece depicts the goddess as a human-like creature with large round breasts, round hips, bird claws for feet, and wings. Her rounded female figure and pronounced breast is what led people to believe is a depiction of the Mesopotamian fertility goddess
Innana/Ishtar. (Greece pt 2, 8)The third example is The Gorgon, Medusa, from the west pediment for the Artemis Temple at Corfu, 580 BCE. Here Medusa is pictures inside the pediment at the temple of Artemis. She is depicted as a fierce female kneeling with her arms wide open, her snake hair waving in the air, a contorted mouth, and big bulging eyes. Accompanying her are her sons and two lions. Medusa is the guardian of the temple and the sole purpose of the piece is protection. Medusa looks ready to pounce on any intruder in order to protect the temple of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis. Medusas demeanor demands respect and evokes fear of any bystander. (last 4min)The fourth piece is Coatlicue, from Aztec temple precinct at Tenochtitlán, c. 1500. The piece was found near the main Aztec temple, in the sacred precinct, present day Mexico City. Coatlicue was an Aztec earth goddess, she was said to be “mother of the earth who gives birth to all celestial things” (19). She is depicted with low hanging breasts and an ample stomach, which indicates she was a mother. Although her function was to depict fertility she also represented death. Death is most prominently illustrated by the intricate necklace that adorens the goddess. The necklace is made up of sacrificed human hands and hearts. Along with it she wears numerous human skulls. This piece represents life and death in an attempt to “explain the importance of human sacrifice in Aztec though” (19). Caotlicue was made to evoke fear, so much so that when it was originally discovered it was reburied because of the fear it caused those discovering it. All four images selected were of female figures that in one way or another represented fertility. Female figurine , Innana/Ishtar, and Coatlicue, were all depicted as mothers. Their figures were shown as round with flaccid low hanging breasts. Medusa was presented with her sons Pegasus and Khrysaor. On the one hand, the images of Female figurine and Innana/Ishtar both revolve around the depiction of fertility. They seem softer and less threatening than Medusa, and Coatlicue. On the other hand, Medusa, and Coatlicue were portrayed as strong and fierce women. Aside from being depicted as fertility symbols some cultures allow women to actively participate in sacred ceremonies. An example of this is seen in the Bambara culture of Mali. The Bambara people hold a sacred ceremony honoring the Chi Wara god where women are allowed to participate. The ceremony consists of male dancers dressed in masks and women singing songs in praise of Chi Wara.

Churches, Temples, and Stupas are all sacred structures that provide societies a place to connect to the heavens. Through this course we have examined multiple societies and the structures where they gather. Some similarities have become obvious while their differences are still present. This essay will explore both similarities and differences in the; Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Rajarejeswara Temple, Great Stupa at Sanchi , and the Temple of the Inscriptions. Great Stupa at Sanchi, is a Buddhist structure in India that was constructed in the 1st century BCE. Since the stupa holds the remains of the Buddha it functions as a sacred place. It provides people a place to go where they can connect to the heavens from earth. This stupa has three plates mast that links the two realms together. People worship in this Stupa by contemplating the path of life, the Buddhist path, while circumambulation clockwise as to follow the path of the sun around the world. Stupas like this serve the Buddhist community, usually becoming a spiritual focus of the town where they are located (Shelby). The Kandarya Mahadeva temple, of the Chandella dynasty, was constructed in India in c.
1000. This temple is dedicated to Shiva, inside the temple is a “sanctuary holding a Shiva lingam”(85). The temple is meant to look like the mountain range where Shiva lived.
Like Buddhist temples connect the Buddhist people to the heaves, so too does this Hindu temple function as a link between the Hindu people and the heavens. The yasti on the temples peak works like an antenna that connects the earth and heaven. Again like in Buddhist temples, Hindu temples are sacred places that provide the people that adhere to Hinduism a place to worship via circumambulation. The Rajarajeshwara temple at Thanjavur , was built by Raja Raja Chola I, in ca 1010 c.e. The massive temple is made out of granite and it’s decorated with multiple carvings. Above this intricate place of worship sits a massive round stone cap. The mast atop this capstone serves as an axis mundi in order to connect the earth to heaven. The Rajarajeshwara temple is another temple dedicated to Shiva. Today the temple still functions as a sacred place for followers of Hindu to worship. Here worshipers gather and “circumambulate around the lingam shrine” (83). This monumental temple also functions as a reminder of the greatness of the powerful king Rajaraja who built
it. The Temple of the Inscriptions, located in (Palenque) Chiapas, Mexico and it was built in ca 683 CE. The Mayans built this temple to serve as the sacred place for worship as well as the tomb of Pakal. He was one of the most prevalent rules of Palenque, ruling over 60 years. The temple has nine steps to symbolize the nine layers of the underworld. Its architecture also serves to represent secrete mountains and mountain. Atop the temple are little cones, reminiscent of the antennas on the other temples discussed. This temple served the sophisticated society known as the Mayans. Although these temples might seem different they share many similarities. For example all four of these temples adhered to the idea of an axis mundi. All of these temples had a kind of antenna that was meant to connect the earth to the heavens. Even in the Temple of the Inscriptions we can see small cones on top of the temple. Another resemblance shared between these temples is seen in their architecture. They all share a prominent naturalistic style. They blend in to their surrounding and often resemble mountains and caves. This style is more predominant in the Kandariya Mahadeva temple and the temple of Rajarajeshwara. Since both these temples were dedicated to Shiva, it makes sense that they would try to symbolize the mountains where Shiva lived leaving their temples resembling stylized mountains. A similarity between the Great Stupa and the Temple of the Inscriptions is that both these structures serve as both temples and grave sites. The Great Stupa holds the remains of the Buddha while the Temple of the Inscriptions holds the remains of Pakal.