Roman

Portrait of a Flavian Woman c. A.D. 90

This elegant portrait bust is very detailed and quite delicate. Notice the soft textures of her hair and flesh. The woman appears gentle, sweet and flawless. She is certainly a woman revered and idealized. Additionally, she is young. Previously, only older women whose lives made them worthy of the art, were sculpted. Here; however, we see that beauty has become a reason for the immortalization of art.

Greek

Temple of Hera I 550 BC

This Archaic temple is built out of sandstone in the doric order. As a temple dedicated to the goddess Hera, sacrifices were made and votive gifts were left for her. This architectural structure signifies the importance of women as it is an entire temple for a female goddess. The Greeks took her seriously, and held her in such high esteem, that they consciously created this long standing temple in her honor.

Prehistoric Aegean

Cycladic Figurine of a Woman

These highly stylized, flat, geometrically shaped marble statuettes have been discovered on grave sites. This implies a ritual funerary use. However, there is evidence that the figurines were used and repaired long before going into the grave. The female figurines are nude and triangular, with their arms crossed across the stomach, a pose considered symbolic of a woman’s fertility. On a similar note, they may represent, in a like-manner of the Venus of Willendorf, a Great Goddess of Nature, a fertility goddess. Fertility, afterall, was a central theme in their religion. Though definite meaning and function is unknown, it is nice to see that women, and their prominent role in rebirth and the life cycle, are so openly depicted.

Egyptian

Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Three Daughters c. 1353-35 BC

This sunken relief carving, from Egypt's New Kingdom period, shows Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their three daughters under the rays of the sun god. It is an intimate scene of the family worshiping together. Both parents enjoy holding and intereacting with their children, implying a sense of balance and respect between the genders. Additionally, Nefertiti was called "the most beautiful woman in the world," another representation of her significance and her power. As the family is interacting so intimately with one another, the viewer becomes aware of how they seem to be depicted more naturalistically, individualistically, and informally than in other eras. Additionally, the fact that their children are girls, and are still included in the art, implies a sense of disregard for male superiority.

Ancient Near Eastern

Statuettes from the Square Temple

These Sumerian statuettes, which were found in religious sites of worship, are dated to c. 2700 B.C. The figurines have clasped hands and wide eyes, as if they are in a permanent state of constant, diligent prayer. Their dress appears priestly, sacred. It is believed that they are votive figurines, meaning they are objects that are left at a temple by a worshiper as a form of prayer or worship. What stands out to me is that the statuettes are not solely male. Included with the priestly figures are priestesses. This shows that Sumerian women had (at least some) rights. Though many of the female carvings are smaller (an implication of being inferior) than their male counterparts, it is still a significant fact that Sumerian women were able to worship and pray alongside men.