This is another very interesting statuette. The abdomen is distended, suggesting pregnancy. One hand is on the forehead (or it would if the head was still completely intact) and the other on the exaggerated vulva. The legs are small when compared to the body, and are twisted backwards. Could this signify some kind of preparation for the delivery of the baby. And is it mere coincidence that there are nine/eight lines on the back of the statuette - nine months are the gestation period of pregnancy! Another very interesting thing about this statuette is that small bits of shell are stuck in the clay at various points in the body, and there is one in the head. The ceramic statuette was found at the Tarxien Temples and it is 5.9x3.5x3 cm. |
(click on the white blobs in the ceramic to see all of the insertions enlarged)