In ancient Greek mythology (cf. Arnobius[1] among others), the story about goddess Baubo is narrated like this: Demeter was mourning the loss of her daughter, Persephone, who was kidnapped and had disappeared[2]. Then, Demeter visited Baubo who offered her a drink. When she declined it, Baubo felt rejected and tried to cheer up the goddess by shaving and uncovering her vulva to her. Baubo's act made Demeter laugh, and cheered her up.[3] In science it is questionable whether Baubo really was a goddess but there are several interpretations which among others include her being a female demon, a queen, or Demeter's nurse.[4] In the 19th century, a Demeter sanctuary was found at excavations in Priene where so-called Baubo figurines were discovered.[5] One figure shows the face in the torso. After this archeological find, research spoke of „vulva personifications".[6] Gsell writes in her book that the figurines received the name Baubo figurines due to the obscene act conveyed in mythology.[7] The sex of this terracotta figure is indicated by a slightly carved vulva triangle. The legs of the goddess are pressed together in order not to enable someone looking at the genitals. Next to the vulva triangle, the pudental cleft is depicted in other representations. There is only a small number of Baubo figurines; the majority of them originate from greco-roman Egypt.[8]

(Translation: C. Wilhelm)