ICE AGE ART AND THE BEAR CULT

Haghia Triada sarcophagus 2

This Minoan funary scene shows the labrys mounted on top of a tree like pole. The four blades per labrys seem to indicate the four directions of the compass. They are probably a reference to the passage of the sun. The birds of prey are a reference to the celestial realm above.

Sumerian labrys 2

These are depictions of Sumerian labrys. They are almost identical to those found at Chauvet Cave on the Panel of [Red] Signs. There are 30k years between them. It is possible that some goddess cults had incredibly ancient roots.

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Here we see these two Sumerian labrys or womb signs suspended above harvest offerings.

vaginal labris

This labrys has a reference to the four directions of the compass. Some people see a butterfly in this image. This is possible. However, there are also references to the female entrance to the womb. Many minoan seals show birthing scenes.

Isis labrys

This Minoan labrys has strong links with the Egyptian Ankh and Knot of Isis. The three strands are a possible reference to the three powers of Isis as well as the flow of the seasons that govern the fertility of the land. The top section with the rays probably marks the trajectory of the sun. However, the whole sign also has connotations with the female sex.

labris cup 1

The previous two signs were on Minoan vases. This one was on a libation cup. Their use was in temple rituals and the liquid they held was likely blood.

labrys

This is a classic Minoan labrys. The diagonal bars are a reference to the directions where the sun rises and sets. Such labrys were mounted on tall poles that were probably decorated with pine leaves.

labris jug 4

This Minoan labrys depiction very clearly shows the reference to the female sex. At the top is the sun and below is the entrance to the underworld.

minoan labrys knot of isis

This Minoan labrys relief very clearly shows the Knot of Isis. See the cords that are visible in the ice age figurines from Adeevo and Kostenki

ankh copy 4

Egyptian Knot of Isis

ankh copy

Egyptian Ankh. We can see the reference to the labrys at the end of the horizontal bar of the Ankh (symbolizing the four cardinal directions). This horizontal bar is tied to a loop above (the trajectory of the sun) and a long bar below that penetrates the underworld. Inside of the loop we can see the seed becoming the sun and the scarab rising from the underworld. In the shamanic world, looking through a hole is looking into the spirit world.

ankh copy 2

The Ankh, Dijed Pillar and Was Sceptre are the three sky pole or axis mundi representations that were used by the ancient Egyptians (seen here in their unity). In the Dijed Pillar the top layers represent the layers of heaven similar to descriptions in the Bible and ancient Asian beliefs.

Egyptian divine pole 2

The Egyptian Was sceptre was usually held by the creator gods and goddesses. At its bottom are the two legs of a female and at the top is a phallic head, which sometimes is also shown as the divine plume.

Sky pole Foerlev Nymolle 2

This wooden ancient Germanic sculpture from a Danish bog very clearly shows the concept of the axis mundi in the northern hemisphere. The female legs/fork is below surmounted by the phallus that points skywards. Spiritually it served to connect these two realms.

dolni 1

This is the same concept as the Danish bog sculpture (previous image) only that this sculpture is from Dolni Vestonice and dates to about 27k BP.

Broddenbjerg sky pole with snake phallus 2

This ancient Danish bog sculpture follows the layout of the preceding sculptures. The head is a reference to a male celestial realm. The phallus is also the snake that emerges from the vagina or gate to the underworld.

GT phallic goddess

This is a carving from Goebekli Tepe (12k BP). It was engraved between to large stone pillars. It is a corpulation scene. The female is represented as a vessel for the male spirit, expressed in her phallic head and the minimization of her hands and feet. She is the embodiment of male and female attributes.

Visco Goddess with male head

In this ancient Danish bog sculpture (Bronze) we also see this fusion of male and female elements. The head is bearded, while the lower body is clearly female. Two torques tie head and body together.

catal huyuk lion goddess copy

This 9k BP clay goddess from Catal Huyuk was found at the bottom of an ancient grain store. It shows the goddess of the underworld/fertility and her two lion companions. Lions are associated with dens and caves in the Middle East, were they used to give birth. The female is also giving birth and life is emerging between her legs.

goddess owl

Interestingly the Burney Relief in the British Museum shows the goddess of the underworld flanked by two owls and two lions. She holds two torques or knots in each hand. The wears a golden crown that is tipped by a golden sun disk. Chauvet Cave hints at the great antiquity of the two lions and the owl, being spirit guardians of the underworld.

Lepenski 8k

This stone sculpture from Lebenski Vir (8k BP) has the typical skeletal attributes of an underworld representation (found in shamanic art around the world). The genital has both phallic and vulva attributes.

Sulawesi phallic statue 2

This statue from Sulawesi in Indonesia (uncertain age) also shows a ribcage with an accenturated sternum. Its phallus rises from the earth/underworld.

Sulawesi Palindo copy 2

The same theme is repeated in this statue from Sulawesi. This posture of arms reaching down to the phallus emerging from the ground has very broad echoes in prehistory, geographically and chronologically.

12k Urfa man copy copy

This sculpture from Urfa near Goebekli tepe is probably around 10 to 12k BP old. It is pointing its phallus down to a round stylized vulva which would have been at floor level when the statue was errected. It still contains stains of red ochre (ritual blood).

GT second main pillar 2

This 7m tall pillar from Goebekli Tepe (12k BP) has the stylized arms and posture of the previous sculptures. The hide hanging from the front of the belt is phallic in shape. Its head and feet are the base that connects to the ground, and the horizontal bar that connects to the sky.

Easter island figure 2

This Easter Island figure shows the arms and the upturned phallus. It was set waist high into the ground. Its red crown was a reference to the celestrial realm above. It was carved from black volcanic rock. The volcano had risen as an ejeculation of lava from the underworld and primordial sea.

GT bear totem

This bear totem pole from Goebekli tepe shows the maturing of life. A seed is at the bottom, emerging from the round opening close to the earth. An infant reaches down to it. Phallic snakes rise up either side. A mature figure sits in the middle superceded by a figure with a spirit bear headdress, indicating close links with bear cult mythology. This is a classic totem pole layout.

Iron age skypole

This Danish bog sculpture shows the mixing of the heavenly and underworld realms. It is a sky pole representation that mirrors the shape of ice age goddess figurines in southern Germany and France (as pointed out by Glob)

Iron age skypole 2

Gundestrup shaman

In the Gundestrup cauldron this scene shows a shaman in the spirit world. He/she is dressed in the fur from the neck of the stag to his right. This stag is older by one year (see horns). He holds a torque up to their necks. The torque is symbolic of the connection of the heavenly and underworld realms. The horned spirit snake in his/her right hand is also a combination of a ram (male mountain) and a snake (female cave). All spirit animals show their ribs and wear their fur as celestial gifts.

Swedish rock art image

P Glob suggested that this Swedish rock art image shows a horned male covering a sacrificed male (the sleeping male/celestial potency during winter) covered by a magic hide. Below the beheaded figure and in line with his phallus sits the new male that will rise with the coming of the new season.

CatalHuyukExcarnation

In this mural from Catalhuyuk (9k BP) two towers hold the head and the decapitated body of a person. The person has been raised to the sky where holy sky beings (vultures) feed on the body near the celestial realm. Such rituals were common among nomadic tribes in the northern hemisphere. Descendants would return the next season to clean and bury the any remaining bones.

goddess owl 3