?No doubt we’ve all heard or read about the statues or figurines of large-breasted, pot-bellied, so-called mother goddesses found at neolithic sites such as Catal Huyuk, in Anatolia. But do these fascinating figures provide proof of a matriarchal, goddess-worshiping culture in pre-history? This question not only results in scholarly debate, but also has political implications.

Currently, there is no conclusive evidence to support the suggestion of female-dominated neolithic communities, as there is equally no such proof of patriarchal societies in the same period. However, there are many unanswered questions arising from the discovery of certain archaeological artifacts during the last half-century, and circumstantial evidence appears to be mounting up on the side of a culture venerating women.

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Over 400% more female figurines have been unearthed than male, and, although there are various styles – some of which don’t seem to be sexual in nature (for example: those found in the Western Mediterranean, which are fatter, with appearances more reminiscent of teddy-bears than sexual beings) – there are some distinctly sexual figures, particularly those found recently in Catal Huyuk. These particular ‘Mother Goddesses’ have huge, prominent breasts and buttocks, and swollen bellies – perhaps indicating the middle stages of pregnancy – and have been argued to be proof of woman being dominant in the sphere of religion at that time. This inevitably led to the question of women possibly dominating other areas of society. On the other hand, a sexless, double-headed stone statuette, assumed to represent a deity, has also been discovered in the same area, leading some researchers to conclude each sex was considered equal. Many anthropologists also argue the highly sexual female figurines may have other uses, such as rites of puberty. Also, it is clear from the murals found in the area that men and women took on different roles within society, even very early on, as far as hunting, agriculture, child-rearing, and other tasks were concerned.

(It is, however, interesting to note the discovery of these highly sexual female figurines coincided with the rise of the feminist movement in the Western world. Some might even speculate this to be more than pure coincidence, suggesting the time had come for women to reassert their power, which is exactly what’s been happening in recent decades, in society, the work-place, and the bedroom…

The idea of a matriarchal society is pleasing to feminists, as the proof of such would mean there may be a possibility of a similar culture in the future.)

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In Crete, a study of figurines from the late-neolithic period (the time proposed by some to be dominated by a mother goddess cult) revealed 37.3% of these to be female, 9.2% to be male, 40.7% to be sexless, and the remainder undetermined. This paints a picture of a culture that celebrated women, regarding them as very important. It’s assumed this is due to the fact women are thought to symbolise fertility; we are aware of fertility goddesses from late Greek mythology, such as Ge, Rhea, Hera, Demeter, and Cybele. Importantly, female fertility was associated with agricultural productivity, so it would make perfect sense for a society newly engaged in agricultural production to worship the female in this way.

Resource: Goddesses, Whores, Wives, & Slaves – Women in Classical Antiquity, By Sarah B Pomeroy.

You may also be interested in the following:

Ancient Civilisations – Introduction: The Neolithic Revolution