Tosca Snijdelaar

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Name: Tosca Snijdelaar
Country: The Netherlands
Nationality: dutch
Email: [email protected]

Relevant education:
University of Utrecht: history (1990-1996)

Current focus:
The meaning of paleolithic Venus figurines

Relevant articles:
2018 - Venus Figurines Anchorpoint between Primatology and Archaeology, in: Anthropos 113.2018: 661-674

Relevant articles popular press:
2010 - De machtige jager versus de onzichtbare vrouw. Prehistorisch wereldbeeld, in: Archeologie Magazine nr. 3, p. 6-7
2010 - Prehistorische porno? In: Het jaar in woord en beeld. Encyclopedisch Jaarboek p. 331

Relevant working experience:
Writer: 1990 –
Topics: inter alia archaeology and history, education, art and politics
Senior editor: 1990 -2013
- Rooie Vrouwen Magazine: a dutch feminist, political monthly
- Keesings Historisch Archief: the English counterpart is Keesings Record of World Events
- Jaarboek Winkler Prins: a dutch annual of the Winkler Prins encyclopedia

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Venus figurines by Tosca Snijdelaar

Continuity of the apotropaic message

Anthropos, 2023

Following studies that uncovered an apotropaic meaning and function of Venus figurines, for which... more Following studies that uncovered an apotropaic meaning and function of Venus figurines, for which a basis was found in bodily processes, this article examines apotropaic iconography from the end of the Late Upper Paleolithic to the Mesolithic in northern Europe. The research focuses on the Venus of Geldrop, while the retoucher from Linne is briefly discussed. These artefacts are compared to artefacts from northern and southern Europe. The apotropaic message of Venus figurines lost its form after the Magdalenian. This is the result of cultural changes caused by the receding of the ice and the ecological, technological, and social instability that accompanied it. This study proposes a substantive continuity of the apotropaic message, embodied by the accentuated vulva of female representations

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Discover Magazine article about Venus figurines

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Review: Religious Speciation. How Religions Evolve. Authors: Ina Wunn and Davina Grojnowski

Anthropos, 2020

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Papers by Tosca Snijdelaar

The Apotropaic Phallus Materialisation of a Human Biological Proces

Anthropos, 2024

This paper focuses on the apotropaic function and meaning of the erect phallus. The simultaneous ... more This paper focuses on the apotropaic function and meaning of the erect phallus. The simultaneous experience of fear or anxiety and the attainment of a (non-sexual) erection may have led to the attribution of apotropaic properties to the penis. There are several possible physiological explanations for this phenomenon that are discussed. Since great apes have a socio-sexual communication repertoire that closely resembles that of Homo sapiens, I assume that it is a phenomenon that can be traced back to the common ancestor. Given the age of the apotropaic function and significance of the male genital, a course of development is outlined that provides insight into how the apotropaic phallus reached the Upper Paleolithic in behaviour, rituals and/or myths. About 125 phallic artefacts from the Upper Paleolithic are known. By the context in which they were found or how they were created, they confirm Dissanayake's artification theory.

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Venus Figurines From body proces to symbolic artefact

Anthropos, 2021

In this article, the working of certain bodily processes is presented as the basis for the apotro... more In this article, the working of certain bodily processes is presented as the basis for the apotropaic meaning and function of the genitals of the Upper Palaeolithic Venus Figurines. The working of the sympathetic nervous system is identified as the cause of genital arousal due to anxiety. The simultaneous experience of anxiety and the engorgement of the labia and clitoris led to an apotropaic meaning, in addition to a sexual meaning, being assigned to the genitals during the Palaeolithic Era. The ability to think in symbols, which was developing greatly at this time, led to that which could be experienced in bodies being transferred to Venus Figurines.

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The apotropaic phallus abstract

Anthropos, 2023

The apotropaic Phallus. Materialisation of a human biological process. "If the archaeological rec... more

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Venus Figurines Anchorpoint between Primatology and Archaeology

Anthropos, 2018

In this article the socio-sexual behaviour of the most recent common ancestor of non-human primat... more In this article the socio-sexual behaviour of the most recent common ancestor of non-human primates and Homo sapiens is seen as the source of an apotropaic-invocatory, calming, and/or threatening-meaning of Upper Palaeolithic Venus figurines. This thesis is based on characteristic behaviours of these primates and draws on insights from human ethology. The meanings of socio-sexual behaviour are phylogenetic or transmitted culturally and were transferred to Venus figurines during the Upper Palaeolithic era. Transferring a meaning to an object became possible as a result of an increasing ability to think in terms of symbols. It is primarily the genitalia, breasts, and buttocks, which are the bearers of meaning in these small sculptures. [Venus figurines, primatology, archaeology, apotropaic meaning, genitalia] Tosca Snijdelaar, studied History at the University of Utrecht (1990-1996).-Since 1990 freelance writer; 1990-2013 senior editor of Rooie Vrouwen Magazine (dutch feminist political monthly), Keesings Historisch Archief (the English counterpart is Keesings Record of World Events), Jaarboek Winkler Prins (dutch annual of the Winkler Prins Encyclopedia)-Her topics are, inter alia, archaeology and history, education, art, politics, and biographical sketches; with a current focus on meaning of paleolithic Venus figurines.-Relevant articles are: "De machtige jager versus de onzichtbare vrouw. Prehistorisch wereldbeeld"

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Continuity of the apotropaic message

Anthropos, 2023

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Discover Magazine article about Venus figurines

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Review: Religious Speciation. How Religions Evolve. Authors: Ina Wunn and Davina Grojnowski

Anthropos, 2020

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The Apotropaic Phallus Materialisation of a Human Biological Proces

Anthropos, 2024

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