Publication details
Female Figurines in Northern Eurasia: An Ethnological Approach.
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | In ethnology, the symbolic meaning of a woman is based on the relationship between her biological development, social status and the changing affiliations within a particular community. In Northern Eurasia there is a generally accepted concept of woman as a hearth-keeper, which is well documented. This role is not only defined by her care for the family and the home, but also by her attention to all sacred objects connected with the household. The creation and decoration of sacred objects is usually inspired by an overall desire to accentuate the specific human or animal-like qualities of the charms. The analysis of female figurines will be biased towards female-spirits, such as The Totemic Mother, The Protectress of the Family, and The MotherNature, whose images and associated rituals are well documented. |