Museum of: Bucharest
  Name of the artefact: The Goddess of Sultana
 
The artefact represents a vessel made of burnt grey-yellowish clay, modelled in the shape of the human body
                               
WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
  
STATE
Department:
Archaeology
Preservation:
 Good
Inventory number:
102326
Restauration:
 Restored
Name of the artefact:
The Goddess of Sultana
Completeness:
 Almost Complete
Object type:
Human figurine
  
Material:
Clay
Methof of manufacture:
Shaping, firing
Decoration type:
Painting
Distinctive mark:
-
DIMENSIONS
  
PERIOD OF USE
Length (mm):
-
Epoque:
Neolithic
Heigth (mm):
230
Culture:
Gumelniţa
Diameter (mm):
-
Period:
Eneolithic
Width (mm):
-
Face:
A2
Thickness (mm):
-
Absolute chronology:
4500-4000 BC
Weight (g):
-
DISCOVERY
Date:
1960
Country:
Romania
District:
Călăraşi
Town hall affiliation:
Mănăstirea
Village:
Sultana
Discovery findspot:
Malu-Roşu
Condition of discovery:
Chance Discovery
Discovery type:
Deposit
ANALYSES – DETERMINATIONS
 
FILLED IN BY
Type:
-
Name:
Radian Andreescu, Katia Moldoveanu
Laboratory:
-
Institution:
Romanian History National Museum
No./Code:
-
Date:
23/02/2005
DEEPENINGS

Morphology of the object:
The vessel, known as The Goddess of Sultana, is modelled in a human shape. The facial features are under the rime. The eyes are marked by incisions with eyebrows in relief; the mouth is depicted by a large incision with a range of holes into lip and the nose is pointed. The big ears are perforated. The legs are short and thick. A special attention is devoted to the buttocks and the hips, which are emphasized. The schematic arms are modelled in an interesting position: the right arm holds the left one which reaching toward the chin, suggesting a person who is thinking.

Decoration:
The artefact, made of grey-yellowish clay is decorated with geometrical motifs painted with white colour.

Inscription:
-

Analogies:
The vessels modelled in the human shape are wide spread in Neolithic. They have different sizes and represent mostly feminine personages, some of them made in a realistic manner. The facial details are usually represented under the vessel’s rim, more rarely being modelled on a lid attached to the vessel. The arms are modelled either on the belly or represented like little handles. Usually these artefacts have a painted or incised sophisticated decoration. Analogies: Vidra, Sultana (Romania), Stara-Zagora, Gabarevo (Bulgary).

Interpretation:
The anthropomorphic vessel modelled in human shape has obviously an attitude of meditation; this attitude could be linked to a religious, spiritual reason. Such vessels were probably used during religious rituals linked with the human community life. The decoration can be interpreted as clothes or as a tattoo. Another interpretation is that in her left hand she is holding panpipes suggesting that the goddess was also a musician.
Bibliography:
Author: Marinescu-Bīlcu, S; Ionescu, B Title: Catalogul sculpturilor eneolitice din Muzeul Raional Olteniţa Place: Sibiu Year: 1967 2. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe Place: London Year: 1974 3. Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: Arta preistorică īn Romānia Place: Bucureşti Year: 1974 4. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The language of the Goddess Place: San Francisco Year: 1989 5. Author: Andreescu, R 2002 Title: Plastica antropomorfă gumelniţeană. Analiză primară Place: Bucureşti Year: 2002