The earliest types of sculpture were fertility goddesses similar to the 'Venus' of Willendorf, which is thought to date from between 24,000-22,000 BCE. They were only large enough to fit in the hand as the earliest civilizations were nomadic and could not carry large statues around with them, nor did they have the skills to make them. The figures had overly large stomachs and breasts showing that the importance of women at that time was for producing offspring and large pregnant bellies and breasts to feed children were what were valued in a woman.
Later Greece imitated this handheld scul…