Ancient Terracotta statuette of a female Goddess - 13 cm

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The nature of this terracotta is difficult to comprehend. It might be an Indian object or a Mediterranean terracotta. \r
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It could be a figure of the goddess Baubo, \r
- Baubo (Βαυβώ) was the legendary wife of Dysaules in Eleusis. When the Goddess Demeter came to Eleusis in search of her daughter Persephone, she was warmly received by Dysaules and Baubo, accompanied by the little Lacchus. Baubo offered them a strengthening drink, but consumed by sorrow, the Goddess declined. Then, either out of annoyance or as a jest, Baubo exposed her bare backside to the goddess, prompting Lacchus to applaud. Demeter, too, chuckled and accepted the offered drink. \r
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- According to a particular tradition, the Eleusinian hero Triptolemus was a son of Dysaules and Baubo; their daughters were Protonoë and Nisa. The Baubo scene in the Demeter saga likely serves as an aetiological element to explain certain forms of ritual exhibitionism that appear to have been common in the Eleusinian and Orphic mysteries. Viewed in a broader context, Baubo may well be a personification of the female genitalia, which is prevalent in fertility cults. \r
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- Literature: \r
Ch. Picard, L'épisode de B. . dans les mystères d'Éleusis (Rev. de l'hist. des rel. 95, 1927, 220vv) . \r
H. Fluck, Skurrile Riten in griechischen Kulten (1931) . \r
M. P. Nilsson, Geschichte der griechischen Religion (München 1955) 657v. [Nuchelmans] \r
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Registered shipping. \r
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Provenance/Known History: \r
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Ex. Private Dutch collection. Collected before 1990. After that J. T. O. , The Netherlands. \r
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Important information: \r
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- A declaration of authenticity by my shop is provided with this lot. \r
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