Fragmentary Neolithic Standing Female Figurine

One of the oldest objects in the Getty Museum's collection, this standing female figure is one of many examples produced in northern Greece in the Neolithic Age. The bulk of the figure consists of the pelvic area, typical of both male and female statuettes of this period. Additional details still remain, however, including an incised necklace around the neck that terminates in a circular indentation. A head, now missing, once sat on top of the broken elongated neck. The arms and legs are not formed, but may be indicated by lines incised for fingers and toes.

Very little is known about the meaning and function of Neolithic figures. They are frequently depicted squatting or seated with very schematic facial features. Incised or painted designs on some figurines may represent clothing, jewelry, or body parts. Whether male or female, the rendering of the body often accentuates the reproductive organs, and the exaggerated proportions of the hips and belly have been interpreted as fertility symbols. Similar types of figurines have been discovered in habitations, burials, and religious settings, and it is likely that such objects served more than one purpose. When buried beneath the floors of dwellings, they may have served as foundation offerings to safeguard the home and its occupants. Figurines in domestic settings could have served a social function, perhaps as objects for exchange, or even used as toys. Those found in graves or shrines may have been representations of humans or deities associated with fertility.