Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Tintoretto_bosom.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Breast2.jpg|right|frame]]

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] bōsm; akin to Old High German buosam bosom

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] bōsm; akin to Old High German buosam bosom

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century before 12th century]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Century before 12th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 a : the [[human]] chest and especially the front part of the chest <hugged the child to his bosom>  

*1 a : the [[human]] chest and especially the front part of the chest <hugged the child to his bosom>  

The '''breast''' is the upper ventral region of an [[animal]]’s torso, particularly that of mammals, including [[human being]]s. The breasts of a [[female]] primate’s [[body]] contain the mammary glands, which secrete milk  used to feed infants.

The '''breast''' is the upper ventral region of an [[animal]]’s torso, particularly that of mammals, including [[human being]]s. The breasts of a [[female]] primate’s [[body]] contain the mammary glands, which secrete milk  used to feed infants.

Both [[men]] and [[women]] develop breasts from the same embryological tissues. However, at [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty puberty], [[female]] sex hormones, mainly estrogen, promote breast [[development]] which does not occur in men. As a result, women's' breasts become far more prominent than those of men.

Both [[men]] and [[women]] develop breasts from the same embryological tissues. However, at [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty puberty], [[female]] sex hormones, mainly estrogen, promote breast [[development]] which does not occur in men. As a result, women's' breasts become far more prominent than those of men.

*History

*History

In European pre-historic [[societies]], [[sculpture]]s of [[female]] figures with pronounced or highly exaggerated breasts were common. A typical example is the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf Venus of Willendorf], one of many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic Paleolithic]  Venus figurines with ample hips and bosom. [[Artifacts]] such as bowls, rock carvings and [[sacred]] statues with breasts have been recorded from [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15,000_BC 15,000 BC] up to late [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiquity antiquity] all across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Many [[female]] [[deities]] [[representing]] [[love]] and [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility fertility] were [[associated]] with breasts and breast milk. Figures of the Phoenician goddess [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte Astarte] were represented as pillars studded with breasts. [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis Isis], an Egyptian goddess who [[represented]], among many other [[things]], [[ideal]] [[motherhood]], was often portrayed as suckling pharaohs, thereby confirming their [[divine]] [[status]] as rulers. Even certain [[male]] [[deities]] representing [[Reproduction|regeneration]] and fertility were occasionally depicted with breast-like appendices, such as the river god [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapy Hapy] who was considered to be [[responsible]] for the annual overflowing of the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile Nile]. Female breasts were also prominent in the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_Civilization Minoan civilization] in the [[form]] of the famous Snake Goddess statuettes. In [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anciient_Greece Ancient Greece] there were several [[cults]] [[Worship|worshipping]] the "Kourotrophos", the suckling mother, represented by goddesses such as [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia Gaia], [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera Hera] and [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis Artemis]. The [[worship]] of [[deities]] [[Symbol|symbolized]] by the female breast in Greece became less common during the first millennium. The popular [[adoration]] of female goddesses decreased significantly during the rise of the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_city_states Greek city states], a [[legacy]] which was passed on to the later [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman empire].

In European pre-historic [[societies]], [[sculpture]]s of [[female]] figures with pronounced or highly exaggerated breasts were common. A typical example is the so-called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Willendorf Venus of Willendorf], one of many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic Paleolithic]  Venus figurines with ample hips and bosom. [[Artifacts]] such as bowls, rock carvings and [[sacred]] statues with breasts have been recorded from [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15,000_BC 15,000 BC] up to late [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiquity antiquity] all across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Many [[female]] [[deities]] [[representing]] [[love]] and [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility fertility] were [[associated]] with breasts and breast milk. Figures of the Phoenician goddess [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte Astarte] were represented as pillars studded with breasts. [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis Isis], an Egyptian goddess who [[represented]], among many other [[things]], [[ideal]] [[motherhood]], was often portrayed as suckling pharaohs, thereby confirming their [[divine]] [[status]] as rulers. Even certain [[male]] [[deities]] representing [[Reproduction|regeneration]] and fertility were occasionally depicted with breast-like appendices, such as the river god [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapy Hapy] who was considered to be [[responsible]] for the annual overflowing of the [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile Nile]. Female breasts were also prominent in the [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_Civilization Minoan civilization] in the [[form]] of the famous Snake Goddess statuettes. In [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anciient_Greece Ancient Greece] there were several [[cults]] [[Worship|worshipping]] the "Kourotrophos", the suckling mother, represented by goddesses such as [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaia Gaia], [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hera Hera] and [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis Artemis]. The [[worship]] of [[deities]] [[Symbol|symbolized]] by the female breast in Greece became less common during the first millennium. The popular [[adoration]] of female goddesses decreased significantly during the rise of the [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_city_states Greek city states], a [[legacy]] which was passed on to the later [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman empire].

During the middle of the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_BC first millennium BC], [[Greek]] [[culture]] [[experienced]] a [[gradual]] [[change]] in the [[perception]] of female breasts. Women in [[art]] were covered in [[Dress|clothing]] from the neck down, including female goddesses like [[Athena]], the patron of [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens Athens] who represented heroic endeavor. There were exceptions: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite Aphrodite], the goddess of [[love]], was more frequently portrayed fully [[nude]], though in [[posture]]s that were intended to portray shyness or [[modesty]], a portrayal that has been compared to modern pin ups by historian Marilyn Yalom. Although [[nude]] men were depicted standing upright, most depictions of [[female]] [[nudity]] in Greek art occurred "usually with drapery near at hand and with a forward-bending, self-protecting posture". A popular [[legend]] at the time was of the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons Amazons], a tribe of fierce [[female]] warriors who socialized with men only for [[procreation]] and even removed one breast to become better warriors. The legend was a popular motif in [[art]] during [[Greek]] and [[Roman]] antiquity and served as an antithetical cautionary tale.

During the middle of the [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_BC first millennium BC], [[Greek]] [[culture]] [[experienced]] a [[gradual]] [[change]] in the [[perception]] of female breasts. Women in [[art]] were covered in [[Dress|clothing]] from the neck down, including female goddesses like [[Athena]], the patron of [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens Athens] who represented heroic endeavor. There were exceptions: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite Aphrodite], the goddess of [[love]], was more frequently portrayed fully [[nude]], though in [[posture]]s that were intended to portray shyness or [[modesty]], a portrayal that has been compared to modern pin ups by historian Marilyn Yalom. Although [[nude]] men were depicted standing upright, most depictions of [[female]] [[nudity]] in Greek art occurred "usually with drapery near at hand and with a forward-bending, self-protecting posture". A popular [[legend]] at the time was of the [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons Amazons], a tribe of fierce [[female]] warriors who socialized with men only for [[procreation]] and even removed one breast to become better warriors. The legend was a popular motif in [[art]] during [[Greek]] and [[Roman]] antiquity and served as an antithetical cautionary tale.

[[Category: The Arts]]

[[Category: The Arts]]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Biology]]