Mary the Dawn: Ancient European Symbols of Fertility and Pregnancy for Pedagogical Purposes

In this paper, I will trace Ancient European Symbols of Pregnancy and
Fertility from pre-history to early Christian times. Whether ancient female images
represented goddesses or not, is not under discussion here. I will explore the possibility
that symbols of pregnancy and fertility take on a purpose beyond self-expression, art,
or worship and suggest the plausibility of pedagogical purposes in a pre-literate world.
By including symbols, I also hope to show how some the roots of our modern alphabet
go back to pre-history, and speak of the sacred sciences of birth.
KEY WORDS: Pregnancy, fertility, goddess, female, symbols, pedagogy