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The Female Divine the Great Goddess Theory

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The Female Divine The Great Goddess Theory • What the proponents say: – Look at the art! • Figures found in shrines – Universal religion focused Venus of Laussel Venus of Willendorf 20,000-18,000 BCE on Life, Death, and 24,000-22,000 BCE Regeneration • Represent at minimum a matrifocal society – Product of a morally superior society • Superseded by violent men eventually Venus of Dolni Vestonice Venus of Lespugue 26,000-24,000 BCE 25,000-18,000 BCE Get into groups • The “Great Goddess” in patriarchal myths – Go back and identify the “Great Goddess” in the Enuma Elish and Hesiod’s Theogony – Cite specific events/actions/behaviors which illustrate the influence of the Great Goddess The Great Goddess Theory • Enuma Elish – Tiamat • Primordial mother, gives birth to the gods • (Initially) defends her children from Apsu’s murderous intentions • Theogony – Gaia • Mother Earth – Female Titans • Theia – Goddess of Light • Phoebe – Full Moon • Rhea – Mountains • Tethys – Waves The Great Goddess Theory • What the critics say: – “Ugh, feminists” – Proponents are using the evidence to fit their theory, not making a theory based off the evidence Classifications of Female Divine • Jungian Archetypes – Three “Goddess Dyads” • Based off of Jung’s theory on extraversion and introversion • Two goddesses, each representing one side of the extroversion/introversion spectrum • Uses Greek goddesses as language to describe driving forces behind women’s actions Classifications of Female Divine • Goddess Dyads – Athena/Artemis (Fierce Independence) • Athena: Warrior Woman in the World • Artemis: Heart of the Lonely Huntress Classifications of Female Divine • Goddess Dyads – Athena/Artemis (Fierce Independence) • Athena: Warrior Woman in the World – Extraverted “career woman” • Artemis: Heart of the Lonely Huntress – Introverted, comfortable with solitude and natural rhythms Classifications of Female Divine • Goddess Dyads – Athena/Artemis (Fierce Independence) – Hera/Persephone (Power) • Hera: Queen and Partner in Power • Persephone: Medium, Mystic, and Mistress of the Dead Classifications of Female Divine • Goddess Dyads – Athena/Artemis (Fierce Independence) – Hera/Persephone (Power) • Hera: Queen and Partner in Power – Extraverted, pursues power in public sphere, active in political movements and preserving social integrity • Persephone: Medium, Mystic, and Mistress of the Dead – Introverted, looks inward to grow spiritually and harness personal power Classifications of Female Divine • Goddess Dyads – Athena/Artemis (Fierce Independence) – Hera/Persephone (Power) – Aphrodite/Demeter (Love) • Aphrodite: Golden Goddess of Love • Demeter: Mother of Us All Classifications of Female Divine • Goddess Dyads – Athena/Artemis (Fierce Independence) – Hera/Persephone (Power) – Aphrodite/Demeter (Love) • Aphrodite: Golden Goddess of Love – Offers beauty, emotional intensity, self- knowledge, and maturity to partner • Demeter: Mother of Us All – Raise and nurture children, provide safe home Other Classifications • The Triple Goddess – Version 1: Corresponds with woman’s life cycle • Virgin – Youth, promise of new beginnings » Artemis: Virgin goddess of the hunt • Mother – Fertility, sexuality, stability, power » Selene: Lunar deity, had over 50 children • Crone – Wisdom, death, ending » Hecate: Wise goddess, patron goddess of witches Other Classifications • The Triple Goddess – Version 2: Corresponds with “Great Goddess” • Life • Death • Regeneration Life Goddess • Foster civilization and bring culture – Universal Womb • Tiamat, Chaos, Cipactli (Nahua) – Mother Earth • Gaia, Demeter, Ma Emma (Estonia), Danu (Irish) – Culture Protectors • Hera, Horae (Eunomia: Lawful, Dike: Justice, Eirene: Peace), Ala (Nigerian) – Military • Ardvi Sura Anahita (Persians), Athena (Hero helper) Great Mound at Newgrange Dublin, Ireland Death Goddess • Act as “Queens of the Underworld,” receiving our spirits – Appear as ancient wise women, witches, mediums • Remember what Jung said? • Airmed (Irish, death of brother), Glispa (Navajo shaman), Hekate (Greek witch) – Can manipulate the elements to heal or harm – Can control seasonal cycles • Persephone and Demeter, Izanami (Japanese) – Dish out Fate to people and/or gods • Moirai (Clotho:Spinner/Lachesis:Measurer/Atropos:Inevidable), Norn (Urd, Verdandi, Skuld) – Prey on infants • Baba Yaga (Eastern Europe), Lilith (Judaism), Kishimogin (Japanese) The Burney Plaque 2200-2000 BCE Isis Selket Mother/Healing Goddess Healer of Poison Liver Intestines Nephthys Neith Nursing Goddess Hunting Goddess Lungs Stomach Regeneration Goddess • Keepers of the “cosmic clock” and maintain rhythm of nature – Savitri (Hindu, birth to culture), Ushas (Hindu Dawn Goddess) • Represent irresistible erotic power or feminine allure. – Can provide wisdom and clarity • Rati (India), Ezili, Hit – Often appear as virgins or nymphs • Niamh (Irish), Oto-Hime (Japanese), Pressina and Melusine (Celtic) – Punish men who resist them • Ishtar – Even receiving their gifts can be dangerous • Aphrodite, Judgment of Paris, Medea (kills Jason’s kids and new bride) The Fire Goddess (Pe-le) • Pe-le – Hawaiian Fire Goddess – Inhabits all volcanoes • Palace under Kilauea Crater • Occasional human sacrifice The Story • Establishes Pe’Le’s credentials – This land was Pe-Le’s. She had made it and she had the power to destroy it. She had power in the heavens, too, for her flames reached up to the skies. All the Gods…were forced to follow her when she left Kahiki, the land beyond the vastness of the ocean, and came to Hawaii. • She comes out of the pit and wants to be beautiful, not all crispy from sitting on the lava. The Story • Goes to sleep, doesn’t want to be disturbed • Hears the drums of a sacred hula, spirit travels to Island of Kauai disguised as a beautiful woman – “And yet she must have come from a very great distance,” the people around her said, “for if a woman so beautiful lived on this island, we would surely have heard her spoken about.” • Manages to seduce handsome Prince Lo-hi-au – Prince Lo-hi-au would not eat either; his mind was altogether on the beautiful woman who sat on the dais beside him The Story • Tells Prince that when they are in Hawaii, they will be together – “When I bring you to Hawaii you shall possess me and I shall possess you.” • Floats away, Prince devastated – And because it seemed to him that she was forever gone, he went back into his house, and took his loin cloth off, and hanged himself with it from the ridgepole to the house. The Story • Sisters end up awakening Pe-le with help from youngest sister, Hi-i-aka • Pe-le wants one of her sisters to go bring Prince to her – Most sisters refuse because they’re afraid, but Hi-i-aka agrees – “When you have brought our lover here, for five days and five nights he shall be mine. After that he shall be your lover. But until I have lifted the tapu you must not touch him, you must not caress him, you must not give him a kiss. If you break this tapu, it shall be death to you and to Prince Lo-hi-au.” The Story • Hi-i-aka agrees, but gives one stipulation – “If you must break out in fire and make raids while I am gone, raid the land that we both own, but do not raid where the lehua groves are; do not harm my friend Ho-po-e, whose life is in the lehua groves.” • Hi-i-aka travels to Kauai only to find Prince dead – Resurrects him with help from magic bestowed upon her from Pe-le – She made her last and her mightiest incantation; the soul particle stayed in the body, and Prince Lo-hi-au lived again. • Upon return, Hi-i-aka discovers that Pe-le has destroyed the lehua groves, and her best friend Ho-po-e is dead The Story • Revenge! Hi-i-aka seduces prince – “Draw nearer,” said Hi-i-aka, “draw nearer so tat I may fasten this wreath around your neck.” She put her arm around the neck of Lo-hi- au; her body inclined towards his. She drew himto herself. The sisters around Pe-le cried out at that. “Hi-i- aka kisses Lo-hi-au!” • Pe-le unleashes her fires to punish them – The fires that rolled toward them spared Hi-i-aka. Lo-hi-au, choked by vapor, fell down, and the lava flow went over him. The Story • Pe-le discovers that Hi-i-aka had brought Prince back to life for her – “It is true,” said Hi-i-aka. “And it is trie that not until you had destroyed my friend Ho-o-pe did I give a caress to Lo-hi-au.” – With help of Kane-milo-hai – Pe-le’s brother – they again restore Prince to life. • Hi-i-aka, wandering where the lehua groves were growing again, and knowing that after dire destruction a new world had come into existence, heard the chant…she discovered Lo-hi-au restore to life once more. With him she wandered through the land below Ki-lu-ea. Men and women were peopling the land, and the Goddess of the Pit was not now so terror inspiring. Groups • Groups of three – Discuss what aspects of the Triple Goddess (Life, Death, Regeneration) are displayed in this myth. – Provide specific examples. Marriage (and Descent) of Innana and Dumuzi • Mesopotamian Myth – Innana • Goddess of beauty but also, originally, of the grain storehouse – Dumuzi • Shepherd god • Myth serves two primary purposes – Marriage rights – Explains the seasons The Courtship • Version 1: The Sister’s Message – Dumuzi’s sister excitedly tells him that this young woman Inanna is smitten with him – Dumuzi goes to Inanna but only wants sex, meanwhile she is thinking about marriage and keeps making excuses as to why they can’t stay out late – Dumuzi doesn’t get the hint – Eventually, he proposes and she accepts • Version 2: The Brother’s Choice – More
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