Museum of: Bucharest
    Name of the artefact: Kourotropos
   
Burnt clay figurine representing a woman which is breast feeding her child
                                 
 
WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
  
STATE
Department:
Archaeology
Preservation:
 Poor
Inventory number:
12104
Restauration:
 Restored
Name of the artefact:
Kourotropos
Completeness:
 Incomplete
Object type:
Human figurine
  
Material:
Clay
Methof of manufacture:
Shaping, firing
Decoration type:
Incision
 
Distinctive mark:
The statuette is decorated with geometric incised
DIMENSIONS
  
PERIOD OF USE
Length (mm):
-
Epoque:
Neolithic
Heigth (mm):
125
Culture:
Vinča
Diameter (mm):
-
Period:
Late Neolithic
Width (mm):
80
Face:
Rast-Vinča B2/C
Thickness (mm):
-
Absolute chronology:
5000 BC
Weight (g):
-
DISCOVERY
Date:
1943-1950
Country:
Romania
District:
Dolj
Town hall affiliation:
Rast
Village:
Rast
Discovery findspot:
Gârla Ţifarului
Condition of discovery:
Archaeological excavation
Discovery type:
Deposit
 
ANALYSES – DETERMINATIONS
 
FILLED IN BY
Type:
-
Name:
Radian Andreescu, Katia Moldoveanu
Laboratory:
-
Institution:
MNIR
No./Code:
-
Date:
20/09/2005
 
DEEPENINGS

Morphology of the object:
The statuette, made of dark grey clay, has its head missing. It has a flat back and prominent buttocks. Two prominences mark the breasts. On its legs she holds a child with the left hand while the right hand is placed under the left breast. The missing head of the child was oriented toward the mother's breast, suggesting that the mother is nursing the child. The mother's arms are perforated on the elbow and shoulders zone.

Decoration:
The statuette is decorated with geometric incised motifs.

Inscription:
-

Analogies:
Even though the motherhood representations are quite rare, they are spread on a wide area in the whole Neolithic society. The feminine figurines, more or less realistic modelled, are usually seated and holding a child in their arms. The child has the head pointed to her mother’s breast suggesting the act of feeding. Analogies: Sesklo (Greece), Fafos II, Gradac, Vinča (Vinča culture, Former Yugoslavia), Zengövárkony (Lengyel culture, Hungary)

Interpretation:
The attitude in which the statuettes are modelled suggests a ritual that can be related with motherhood.The act of feeding the child associated with the maternal devotion impressed people even from prehistory. The breast feeding gesture can suggest in a symbolic way the vegetation renewal and life perpetuation through the mediation of the child.
Bibliography:
Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: Arta preistorică în România Place: Bucureşti Year: 1974 2. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe Place: London Year: 1974 3. Author: Dumitrescu, Vl Title: The Neolithic settlement at Rast Periodical: BAR International Series Volume: 72 Place: Oxford, UK Year: 1980 4. Author: Gimbutas, Marija Title: The language of the Goddess Place: San Francisco Year: 1989