52 i Flora Unveiled
present in the stag- baiting scene from level V, which is prominently displayed just inside
the entrance of the Anatolian Museum in Ankara. The painting shows the usual array of
active male hunters harassing a stag. They are for the most part oriented vertically and their
arms are raised in threatening gestures (Figure 3.10A). At the upper right- hand corner is
an elongated, horizontal black figure, which Mellaart interpreted as one of the male hunt-
ers leaning forward as if sprinting. Upon closer inspection, however, we favor an alterna-
tive interpretation: the horizontal figure may actually be a female harvester (Figure 3.10B).
Our interpretation is based on two criteria. First, although not entirely clear, the figure
seems to have breasts. Second, the large conical object perpendicular to her waist is quite
different from the leopard skins typically attached to the waists of the male hunters figures
and resembles a basket.
What are lone women doing in a wild animal- baiting scenes dominated by men?
Perhaps there is a trivial explanation, that they were added later and have nothing to do
with the original tableau. However, if the presence of women in these scenes is intentional,
they might be telling us something of central importance. We propose that the women
in these paintings have iconic value, beyond their individual personhood. They could, for
example, signify agricultural fields, which were located primarily on dry ground several
(a)(b)Figure 3.10 Stag- baiting mural from house at level V. A. Stag with vertical male hunters and
a possible horizontal female plant harvester. B. Enlarged view of putative female harvester with
basket.