LOWENMENSCH

The earliest-known example of figurative art (art that clearly
draws from real things) does not show anything which might
be expected. Instead of simply representing a human figure,
it shows a fusion of animal and human.
The Lowenmensch figure was carved from mammoth ivory
around 40,000 years ago. The statue depicts the body of a
human with the head of the now-extinct European cave lion.
It is impossible to know what the statue represented to the
people who made it. But similar animal-human figures in
other cultures relate to deities who cross between the
human and spirit worlds. We do know that the
Lowenmensch (“Lion Man”) was deposited deep in a cave
which was not used for habitation and was perhaps only
used for spiritual occasions.
The Lion Man statue was discovered by members of the SS
in 1939 as part of their research into their theories of Aryan
supremacy. It was only after the defeat of the Nazis that
real historians could work on—and work out the real
significance of—the Lowenmensch.

VENUS FIGURINES

For thousands of years, people throughout Europe and
Siberia carved strangely misshapen statues of a large
woman. Over 200 figures dating from 35,000 to 8,000 years
old have been found. Most are carved from soft stones. But
others are made from ivory or bone, and clay examples are
among the earliest evidence of ceramics.
All show women with bulging bellies, swollen breasts, and
other bits of exaggerated anatomy . Many think that the
statues represent a mother deity. The overtly feminine
aspects may point to the idea of fertility being turned into a
goddess.
Perhaps the most famous of these figures is the Venus of
Willendorf . This statue dates from around 23,000 BC. When
it was discovered, historians felt that it was a representation
of love and beauty. They gave it the name Venus, which has
stuck to all such figures.
Even though the figure has been studied for 100 years,
much remains mysterious. Why does the figure not have a
face? Scholars cannot even agree if she is shown with
plaited hair or if she is wearing a knitted hat.

CELTIC HEADS

The Celtic tribes which occupied Europe before the rise of
the Roman Empire had a complex society. They left rich
material remains for archaeologists to study. One of their
religious practices has helped studies of their culture.
Celtic peoples would often place items in rivers and springs
as offerings. Sometimes, searching these sites brings up
golden objects, weapons, or ominous carved heads. These
simple, almost blank Celtic heads are found throughout
Europe and are not limited to water locations. Celtic heads
have been found buried or can even be seen incorporated
into Christian churches.
The Celtic head discovered at Corleck Hill in Ireland is one
of the most intriguing examples. The stone has not one but
three faces staring out of it in differing directions. Each face
has a similar expression and bulging eyes. Some think the
statue represents an all-seeing god, one who can see in all
directions.

MICTLANTECUHTLI

The Aztec gods have a certain bloody reputation as they
demanded human sacrifices. It is not merely in their worship
that they were fearsome. Some of the images the Aztecs
set up of their gods are quite disturbing. It is perhaps not
surprising that one of the most unsettling is that of the
death god, Mictlantecuhtli, who ruled over the lowest level
of the Aztec underworld.
Mictlantecuhtli was closely linked to animals like owls,
spiders , bats, and others of a sinister reputation. In his
statues, he is usually shown with a withered head or bare
but grinning skull. His large, staring eyes help him to
penetrate the deep gloom of his realm. On his body, spots
of red blood can be seen.
When archaeologists discovered the first temple of
Mictlantecuhtli in 2013, they realized to whom the temple
belonged when they discovered human skulls with red
pigment smeared across their mouths—similar to how
Mictlantecuhtli is often shown.

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