Venus of Willendorf at The Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria

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The Woman of Willendorf, now a widely accepted term in academia, stands at a height of 11.1 centimeters or 4.4 inches as a figurine representing a female figure estimated to have been created between approximately 28,000 and 25,000 years ago. Discovered by workman Johann Veran in 1908 during excavations conducted by archaeologists Josef Szombathy, Hugo Obermaier, and Josef Bayer at a paleolithic site near the village of Willendorf, Austria, it is carved from an oolithic limestone not native to the region and stained with red ochre. The figurine is now housed in the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria. Several similar statuettes have been found, leading to their collective reference as Venus figurines, although they pre-date the mythological figure of Venus by millennia. Following a re-evaluation of the site's stratigraphy in 1990, the estimated date for the creation of the Woman of Willendorf was revised to between approximately 24,000 and 22,000 years ago; however, more recent estimates suggest it dates back slightly further, between about 28,000 and 25,000 years ago. It is believed that this figurine was created during the Paleolithic Period, also known as the Old Stone Age, a period of prehistory that began around 30,000 years ago. Despite being one of numerous Venus figurines surviving from the Paleolithic period, very little is known about its origin, method of creation, or cultural significance. The purpose of this carving remains the subject of much speculation; it never had feet and does not stand on its own. Emphasis has been placed on parts of the body associated with fertility and childbearing, leading researchers to believe that the Woman of Willendorf may have served as a fertility goddess. The figure lacks a visible face, with her head covered by circular horizontal bands that might represent rows of plaited hair or a type of headdress. The nickname "Venus," which was originally given due to its resemblance to the classical image of Venus, is now considered controversial. According to Christopher Witcombe, this identification satisfied certain assumptions about the primitive, women, and taste at the time. Catherine McCoid and LeRoy McDermott propose that these figurines may have been created as self-portraits. The Woman of Willendorf was originally nicknamed "la poire," or "the pear," due to its shape. Édouard Piette, who coined the name "Venus," might have done so because of the emphasis on the vulva's labia and the prominent pubic area, which he referred to as "le mont de Vénus" – the mound of Venus. This object is part of the Scan The World initiative, a non-profit project introduced by MyMiniFactory through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.