This Baubo figurine belongs to the type from Asia Minor-Egypt.[1] It differs from the Priene figurines in its seating posture and in being more corpulent than the equivalents from Priene. With her right hand Baubo indicates her vulva, which shows an opening. According to researchers, this posture is interpreted as „state just before giving birth".[2] Compared to other common female depictions of this age, which represented woman as goddess, mother or prostitute, this example indicates the female genitals most vividly. However, vagina and vulva were not depicted in a naturalistic way. What's so special about this Baubo is that the vagina is depicted directly in the capacity of life-giving organ. It is not completely verifiable which purpose the Baubos served. Some researchers[3] believe in a „personification of sexuality"[4], others assume properties in Baubos which prevent from disasters, similarly to vulva and phallus charms for instance.

(Translation: C. Wilhelm)