#sleeping lady

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It depicts a voluptuous woman sleeping on her side, reclining on a small bed – a symbol of worship, death or rebirth in the Neolithic period. Traces of red ochre paint are still visible; this colour is often associated with life, blood and death.

Archaeologists are unsure of its meaning; it may represent a ‘mother goddess’, a priestess or a woman in prayer, a symbol of the cycle of life and eternal sleep. Measuring approximately 12 cm in length, it is regarded as a masterpiece of prehistoric art worldwide.

She wears a pleated skirt whilst her torso is bare; to prevent any damage, she is kept in a dimly lit gallery within the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

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La Dama Durmiente es una estatuilla neolítica de arcilla que data de hace 5.000 años, descubierta por casualidad en el hipogeo de Ħal Saflieni, en Malta, en 1902.

Representa a una mujer de formas generosas que duerme de costado, tumbada en una camilla, símbolo de culto, muerte o renacimiento en el Neolítico. Aún se aprecian restos de pintura de color ocre rojizo, un color que a menudo se asocia con la vida, la sangre y la muerte.

Los arqueólogos no están seguros de su significado; tal vez represente a una «diosa madre», una sacerdotisa o una mujer en actitud de oración, símbolo del ciclo de la vida y del sueño eterno. Mide unos 12 cm de largo y se considera una obra maestra del arte prehistórico mundial.

Lleva una falda plisada y el torso desnudo; para evitar que se dañe, se conserva en una galería casi a oscuras dentro del Museo Nacional de Arqueología de La Valeta.

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La Dama Dormiente, è una statuetta neolitica in argilla risalente a 5.000 anni fa, scoperta per caso nell'Ipogeo di Ħal Saflieni a Malta nel 1902.

Raffigura una donna formosa che dorme su un fianco distesa su un lettino, simbolo di culto, morte o rinascita nel Neolitico. Sono ancora visibili tracce di vernice rossa ocra, colore spesso associato alla vita, al sangue e alla morte.

Gli archeologi non sono certi del suo significato, forse rappresenta una "dea madre", una sacerdotessa o un'orante, simbolo del ciclo della vita e del sonno eterno, lunga circa 12 cm, è considerata un capolavoro dell'arte preistorica mondiale.

Indossa una gonna a pieghe mentre il busto è nudo, per evitare di danneggiarla è custodita in una galleria quasi buia all'interno del Museo Nazionale di Archeologia di La Valletta.

Source: Compagni di viaggio

Annamaria Weldon

I went where she reigned far underground, deeper than roots, in rooms hollowed by hand and bone, where curved walls contained my breath like lungs.

             Passageways opened onto chambers              honeycombed in stone              where there was no light              and blind air read my skin.

Who painted the womb-shaped echo-chamber with ochre veins? The spirals on concave walls seem to move with sound waves, fluid as amniotic water, persistent as blood.

              So far down, this far back, definition               fades. We braille a truth, one version               from things only guessed at.

In bone-dug bethels where perhaps they incubated dreams, a woman sleeps. In my palm, earth to earth I hold her double: a small, clay statue,

               rotund buttocks, fall of ample breasts                all luxuriant volume, prompting again                the old question: is she diviner or divine?

Mount Susitna

Often called “The Sleeping Lady,” if you look to the west, you will see the woman at rest across the inlet. Native stories say that the lady was engaged to a man who was off to protect their village before they wed. On the day her fiancé left, she promised to wait in the exact spot where he bade farewell.

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Susitna Dağı