Neolithic Pregnancies

[alanajoli]

As my shape is changing, I've been recalling the neolithic figurines of women I've seen in museums -- the very, very old images of women with large bellies and breasts (and often large bottoms) symbolizing fertility. Given how my brain works, it's not surprising that this is the direction I've been thinking in regards to my own pregnancy.


(Courtesy of The Met.)

I was talking with violet_whisper about this at dinner yesterday, and she brought up the idea of feminine beauty, and how it's obvious that the fertility aspect was a large part of that beauty (rather than our modern fashion stars from the line of Twiggy). I don't know how much we can say about neolithic ideas of beauty -- as their reasons for carving stone sculptures were, presumably, different from the reasons of the Classical Greeks, who also appreciated a little bit of roundness around the belly -- but I do find these early representations of women much more intriguing as my own profile changes. I hadn't really felt a kinship before, but I suppose that one becomes closer to a representation when one could herself be the represented. :) (Just a little Barfield terminology thrown in there for fun.)


(Courtesy of Brigantes Nation.)

For more fun early woman/goddess images, check out this forum, which has a pretty extensive collection, some written about in English, and others, presumably in Dutch (given the site location).

Comments

[bccreations.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind that in pre-modern medical times, a woman with narrow hips was much more likely to bleed badly during pregnancy, increasing the risk of both infection and death. A woman with birthing hips was much more likely to have repeated successful pregnancies and thus would be more appealing to potential fathers.

[vita-ganieda.livejournal.com]

This is what I keep saying--they're childbearing hips, damnit! ;)

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

You said what I wanted to say, but without the accompanying rant I might have accidentally ventured into about modern ideals of beauty... :)

[exoder27.livejournal.com]

Are you also turning into stone? I don't really know how pregnancy works.

I hope I can see you sometime soon! Love love love!
Morgan

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's a long process, much slower than what happens when looked upon by a basilisk or a gorgon, and I hear that I will actually recover my flesh after I've delivered. ;)

I hope I can see you soon, too! Any chance of your being in Michigan this weekend? (I know T. mentioned it as a possibility.)

[exoder27.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to make it up this weekend. I was hoping maybe I could, but the timing just won't work. :( How far along are you now? and will you be back before it hits 9 months?

Actually, one thing I completely forgot to tell you about (I'm an idiot), we're playing in NY next weekend. We originally were playing Thursday and Friday, but I think the Thursday one has officially fallen through. However, we are still playing in NY on Friday at a place called RBar. I don't know a thing about it, but if you can somehow manage it, it would be awesome to see you! details on myspace.