Figurines

The people of Çatalhöyük made many different types of figurines out of clay and stone. Some were crudely made animals, including sheep, goats, cattle and pigs. The more refined figurines include female statuettes, some holding animals, and seated male figures. Some of the female figures are very plump and others appear to be giving birth to both humans and animals.

Mystery One- what were these figurines used for? Are they representation or symbolic? For instance, there is no evidence of domesticated cats in the area, but some figurines show female figures holding catlike animals.

Mystery Two-did the people of Çatalhöyük believe in a mother goddess? Also, is the figurine at Çatalhöyük shown here the same as the Roman sculpture of Cybele that appears 6000 years later?