GREAT MOTHER GODDESS WORSHIP - WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?
I.GREAT MOTHER GODDESS WORSHIP IN ANCIENT TIMES
1.EARLIEST ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN INEXPLICABLE
A.MANKIND HAS ALWAYS WRESTLED WITH HOW
a.WORLD, INCLUDING MAN, PLANTS & ANIMALS CREATED
B.ALL EARLY SOCIETIES HAD CREATION MYTHS
C.ALSO HAD MYTHS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTER WORLD
CREATED
a.WARS, FLOODS, ETC.
D.OTHER THING PEOPLE PONDERED
a.HOW CAN CHANGING SEASONS BE EXPLAINED?
b.HOW CAN DEATH & REBIRTH OF SOIL & PLANTS BE
EXPLAINED?
E.SCHOLARS REFER TO THESE AS RESURRECTION MYTHS
F.RESURRECTION MYTHS MORE IMPORTANT TO FARMERS
a.WAITED FOR SPRING TO COME AFTER WINTER
G.HUNTING PEOPLES & PASTORALISTS MORE CONCERNED WITH
CREATION
a.& BIRTH OF ANIMALS, ETC.
2.FIRST APPEARANCE OF GODDESS WORSHIP
A.IN PREHISTORIC & EARLY HISTORIC PERIODS
a.PEOPLE BELIEVED THEIR SUPREME CREATOR AS FEMALE
B.TITLES GIVEN TO THIS CREATOR OR CREATRIX
a.GREAT GODDESS
b.DIVINE ANCESTRESS
c.GREAT MOTHER GODDESS
d.QUEEN OF HEAVEN & EARTH
C.OCCURRED FROM PALEOLITHIC & NEOLITHIC PERIODS
a.FROM C. 30,000 B.C.
b.UNTIL CLOSING OF LAST GODDESS TEMPLES ABOUT 500 A.D.
c.SO FROM 30,000 B.C. TO 500 AD..
d.BUT MORE SOLID EVIDENCE FROM NEOLITHIC PERIOD
(1)C. 7500 B.C.
D.FROM PALEOLITHIC TIMES MOST ARTIFACTS FEMALES
a.HARDLY ANY MALE FIGURINES
b.MADE FROM VARIETY OF MATERIAL
(1)STONE
(2)CLAY
(3)METAL
E.VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF MEANING
F.SOME BELIEVE THESE FIGURES
a.GODDESS OF FERTILITY
b.OTHERS MOTHER GODDESS
G.OTHERS BELIEVE CONCEPT OF SYMPATHETIC MAGIC
a.RITUALS & SYMBOLS AIMED AT MAKING INDIVIDUAL
WOMAN PREGNANT
H.BUT EVIDENCE SHOWS GREAT GODDESS FROM PREHISTORIC
TIMES WORSHIPED AS
a.GUARDIAN OF CHILDBIRTH
b.SOURCE OF WISDOM
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c.DISPENSER OF HEALING
d.LADY OF BEASTS
e.FOUNT OF PROPHECY
f.SPIRIT WHO PRESIDED OVER DEATH
g.SYMBOL OF FERTILITY
(1)GUARANTOR OF
(a)CROPS
(b)ANIMALS
(c)HUMANS
3.WHY ONLY WORSHIP OF GODDESS?
A.BEFORE PROCESS OF REPRODUCTION UNDERSTOOD
a.BABIES SIMPLY BORN TO WOMEN
b.NO CONNECTION MADE WITH INTERCOURSE
c.THOUGHT MEN HAD NO PART IN REPRODUCTION
d.ONLY WOMEN COULD PRODUCE NEW LIFE
B.SO REVERED POWER OF WOMEN OVER NATURE
C.BELIEF AROSE WOMAN DIVINE NOT HUMAN
D.& SO BORN WORSHIP OF GREAT MOTHER
4.ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF MOTHER GODDESS
A.GODDESS FIGURE FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
a.25,000 B.C.
B.GODDESS OF LAUSELL, FRANCE
a.ROCK CARVING 22,000-1800 B.C.
C.VENUS OF VILLENDORF - AUSTRIA
a.30,000 B.C.
D.VILLAGE SETTLEMENT OF CATAL HUYUK IN TURKEY
a.C. 8000 B.C.
b.AT LEAST 40 SHRINES TO GODDESS
c.IN 3 INCARNATIONS
(1)MAIDEN, MOTHER & CRONE
E.IN JERICHO - 1ST SHRINES TO MOTHER GODDESS
a.C. 7000 B.C.
5.EARLIEST WRITTEN RECORDS RE MOTHER GODDESS WORSHIP
A.1ST WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF TEMPLE OF GODDESS
a.C.4000 B.C.
b.UNDER TITLE OF QUEEN OF HEAVEN AT ERECH (MODERN
URUK) IN SUMERIA
B.BY 3000 B.C.
a.MOTHER GODDESS APPEARS EVERYWHERE IN KNOWN
WORLD
(1)IN STATUES, SHRINES & WRITTEN RECORDS
6.COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
A.EARLIEST GODDESS FACELESS
a.AS IF TO ACCENTUATE HER UNIVERSALITY
B.EARLIEST LACKING FEET
a.APPEARED TO COME STRAIGHT OUT OF EARTH
C.UNCLOTHED & FREQUENTLY BIG BREASTED
D.OTHER FIGURINES SHOW HER ENTIRE BODY AS AMPLE
a.HUGH BREASTS, BELLY & BUTTOCKS
b.AS IF PLENTITUDE OF HER BODY WOULD INSURE PLENTIFUL
CROPS & HERDS
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E.SOMETIMES SHE IS PREGNANT
F.SOMETIMES SHE IS GIVING BIRTH
G.SOMETIMES SHE IS NURSING A CHILD
H.SHE MAY BE SLENDER TOO
a.SHOWING EMPHASIS ON HER SEXUAL POWERS
I.IN OTHER REPRESENTATIONS SHE APPERS IN REGAL POSE
a.OFTEN HOLDING OR SUPPORTED BY ANIMAL
b.OR WEARING JEWELRY
7.INTRODUCTION TO SYMBOLS & ICONOGRAPHY OF MOTHER GODDESS
A.SIMILARITY OF STATUES, TITLES, SYMBOLS IMPLY SAME
GODDESS THROUGHOUT LANDS JUST WITH DIFFERENT NAME
a.ALTHOUGH STILL ONGOING DEBATE ON THIS
B.MARIJA GIMBUTAS
a.THE LANGUAGE OF THE GODDESS
C.POET, WRITER & MYTHOLOGIST ROBERT GRAVES (WHITE
GODDESS)
D.AMAZING HOW MUCH OF GODDESS IMAGERY SURVIVED
E.HISTORY OF RELIGION TEXTS FAIL TO BRING THIS OUT
F.AS NEOLITHIC PREGNANT GODDESS DIRECT DESCENDANT OF
FULL-BELLIED PALEOLITHIC "VENUSES"
G.SAME IMAGE SURVIVES IN PREGNANT MARY OF MEDIEVAL
CHRISTIAN ICONOGRAPHY
H.NEOLITHIC IMAGE OF YOUNG GODDESS OR MAIDEN CAN BE SEEN
IN VENERATION OF MARY AS HOLY VIRGIN
I.& ANCIENT FIGURE OF MOTHER-GODDESS HOLDING HER DIVINE
CHILD & NURSING HIM
a.ESPECIALLY ISIS & HER SON HORUS
8.SYMBOLS
A.SERPENT OR SERPENTS
a.SHEDS THEIR SKIN & ARE REBORN
(1)PART OF GODDESS'S POWERS OF REGENERATION
B.TRIPLE SPIRAL
a.3 ASPECTS OF GODDESS
C.BULLS
D.BEARS
a.RUSSIA
b.ARTEMIS, DIANA
E.DEER & REINDEER
a.ARTEMIS, DIANA
F.COW
a.HATHOR HAS HORNS OF COW
G.DOVE
a.HUICHAL
b.MOTHER GODDESS KUKURUKU
H.OWL
a.WISDOM SYMBOL
(1)LILITH, INANNA, SOPHIA, IN O.T.
(2)ATHENA OF ATHENS
I.BUTTERFLIES
a.SYMBOLS OF METAMORPHOSIS
(1)& TRANSFORMATIVE POWERS OF GODDESS
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b.STYLIZATION OF BUTTERFLY
(1)PRINCIPAL SYMBOL OF GREAT GODDESS APPEARING
WIDELY THROUGH MEDITERRANEAN & ASIA
MINOR
(2)CRETE ANCIENT MINOAN CIVL
c.EVEN LATER CRETAN DOUBLE-HEADED AXE
(1)REMINISCENT OF HOE AXES USED TO CLEAR FARM
LANDS
J.WATER
a.WATER GODDESS CHALCHIHUITLICUE
(1)GODDESS OF JADE PETTICOAT FROM MEXICO
(2)RESPONSIBLE FOR GREAT FLOOD
K.BUT NO AGGRESSIVE MOTIFS
a.NO SPEARS, SWORDS OF THUNDERBOLTS
9.NB MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING SUN/MOON;HEAVEN/EARTH DEITIES
A.ALWAYS SAID SUN WORSHIPED AS MALE
B.WHILE MOON REVERED AS FEMALE
C.YET SUN GODDESS IN CANAAN, ANATOLIA, ARABIA & AUSTRALIA,
ESKIMOS, JAPANESE & KHASIS OF INDIA
a.SUBORDINATE BROTHERS SYMBOLIZED AS MOON
D.& SAID EARTH ALWAYS SYMBOLIZED AS FEMALE, MOTHER
EARTH & HEAVEN MALE
E.YET NEARLY ALL FEMALE DEITIES OF NEAR & MIDDLE EAST
TITLED QUEEN OF HEAVEN
F.IN EGYPT NOT ONLY ANCIENT GODDESS NUT KNOWN AS HEAVEN
G.BUT HER BROTHER-HUSBAND GEB SYMBOLIZED AS EARTH
II.SPECIFIC MOTHER GODDESS FIGURES IN ANCIENT HISTORY
1.MOTHER GODDESS FIGURE IN ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
A.EARLIEST KNOWN CREATION MYTH FROM EXTANT SOURCES
a.FROM SUMER
b.SURVIVES ONLY IN FRAGMENTARY STATE
c.NAMMU = GODDESS OF SEA
d.RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING UNIVERSE BY GIVING BIRTH
e.TO HEAVEN & EARTH
(1)APPARENTLY UNAIDED
B.INANNA
a.EVENTUALLY BECOMES MOST NB GODDESS
b.& APPEARS TO HAVE TAKEN OVER ATTRIBUTES
ORIGINALLY ATTRIBUTED TO NAMMU
c.NONE RIVALLED HER
d.MANY HYMNS COMPOSED TO HER AS QUEEN OF HEAVEN
C.WHEN SEMITIC AKKADIANS TAKE OVER REGION
a.INANNA BECOMES ISHTAR
(1)KNOWN AS QUEEN OF HEAVEN & GODDESS OF WAR
D.WHILE ISHTAR OF BABYLONIANS IS COSMIC UTERUS
a.STARS OF ZODIAC HER RAIMENT
E.GAEA OR GAIA, ANATOLIA MOTHER EARTH, EMERGES FROM
PRIMAL VAGINA
a.ABYSS OF ALL=FEELING AND ALL-KNOWING
F.AS OTHER PEOPLES INHABITED MIDDLE EAST AREA
G.MANY NAMES IDENTIFIED MOTHER OR CREATRIX GODDESS
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H.BUT IN EACH LANGUAGE NAME DENOTED GREAT GODDESS
I.BY OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
a.ASTARTE =
(1)CANAAN NAME FOR HER
b.ASHTORETH OR ASHERAH
(1)PAGAN GOD OF O.T. ACTUALLY ASTARTE
(2)BIBLICAL SCRIBES USED MASCULINE GENDER OF
NAME
2. EGYPT
A.IN EGYPT MORE COMPLICATED
B.IN PREHISTORIC EGYPT MORE THAN ONE CREATION MYTH
C. 1 GODDESS HELD SUPREMACY IN UPPER EGYPT
a.NEKHHBT
b.SYMBOLIZED AS VULTURE
D.LOWER EGYPT
a.ANOTHER SUPREME GODDESS
(1)UA ZIT = GREAT SERPENT
E.FROM ABOUT 3000 B.C. ON GODDESS
a.KNOWN AS NUT, NET OR NIT
b.PROBABLY DERIVED FROM NEKHEBT
c.MYTHS RELATE NUT CREATED ALL
d.NUT PLACED RA, SUN GOD, IN SKY
F.OTHER TEXTS SAY GODDESS HATHOR - CREATOR OF EXISTENCE
a.& TOOK FORM OF SERPENT AT TIME
3.SEXUAL NATURE OF MOTHER GODDESS
A.1 OF ATTRIBUTES OF MOTHER GODDESS
a.GOT HER BAD PRESS
b.FROM LATER TIMES & ESPECIALLY FROM 19TH C VICTORIAN
ERA
B.THESE SCHOLARS CALLED SEXUALLY ACTIVE GODDESS AS
a.IMPROPER, UNBEARABLY AGGRESSIVE, EMBARRASSINGLY
VOID OF MORALS
C.WHILE MALE DEITIES WHO RAPED OR SEDUCED WOMEN
a.PLAYFUL, VIRILE
D.MAJOR RITUAL CONNECTED WITH MOTHER GODDESS
a.CALLED SACRED MARRIAGE RITE
E.THIS RITE DATES BACK TO PREHISTORIC TIMES
a.ENSURED FERTILITY OF NATURE
b.CONTINUANCE OF HUMAN RACE
F.IN ALL CULTURES GODDESS ALWAYS UNMARRIED & NEVER
CHASTE
G.SO HER ROLE AS GOOD MOTHER HAS TO BE RECONCILED WITH
HER SEXUAL NATURE
H.KING OR RULER OF AREA CHOSEN TO
a.HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH PRIESTESS FOR
PARTICULAR MOTHER GODDESS
I.REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO AS RITUAL PROSTITUTES
J.YET WOMAN AT TIME KNOWN AS QADESH, MEANING HOLY
K.OTHER PLACES WORDS MEANS WOMAN OF HIGH RANK OR HOLY
WOMAN
L.IN EVERY CULTURE MOTHER GODDESS HAD MANY LOVERS
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M.LOVER IS ALWAYS INFERIOR TO GODDESS
a.MORTAL WHERE SHE IS IMMORTAL
b.YOUNG WHERE SHE IS AGELESS & ETERNAL
c.POWERLESS WHERE SHE IS ALL-POWERFUL
d.& MALE LOVER EVEN PHYSICALLY SMALLER
N.FREQUENTLY LOVER IS REPRESENTED AS GODDESS' YOUNGER
BROTHER OR SON
O.& ALWAYS HE DIED
P.RECORDED HISTORY -EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICE OF YOUNG MALE
Q.CULTURES GRADUALLY DEVELOPED SUBSTITUTE OFFERINGS
a.RITUAL CASTRATION
R.MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT GODDESS INANNA IN HER SEXUAL ROLE
S.ANCIENT HYMN THE EXALTATION OF INANNA
a.WRITTEN BY ENHDUANNA, DAUGHTER SARGON &
PRIESTESS OF UR C 2300 B.C.
b.MAKES VERY CLEAR WHAT CONSEQUENCE OF
DISOBEDIENCE TO INANNA WOULD BE
(1)OVER THE CITY WHICH HAS NOT DECLARED, THE
LAND IS YOURS, INANNA DEPARTS AND ITS
WOMAN NO LONGER SPEAKS OF LOVE WITH HER
HUSBAND. AT NIGHT, THEY NO LONGER HAVE
INTERCOURSE. SHE NO LONGER REVEALS TO HIM
HER INMOST TREASURES
4.MENSTRUATION BELIEFS CONNECTED WITH GODDESS
A.WIDESPREAD PRACTICE THROUGHOUT PERIOD OF GODDESSWORSHIP
a.TREATING CERTAIN SACRED GRAVE BURIALS WITH RED
OCHER
b.BRIGHT RED IS ASSOCIATED IN MANY RELIGIONS WITH
FEMALE GENITAL BLOOD
c.WOMEN'S MENSTRUAL BLOOD = MOON-GIFT FROM
GODDESSB.VENERATION OF WOMEN'S NATURAL RHYTHMS & MONTHLY
FLOW CONTRASTS WITH SECRET SHAME & CURSE OF LATER
TIMES
III.DECREASE IN ROLE & POWER OF GODDESSES IN ANCIENT NEAR EAST
1.ADVENT OF MALE GOD
A.ABOUT (MID 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.E. 2400 BC. NORTHERN
INVADERS CAME TO MIDDLE EAST
a.GENERALLY KNOWN AS INDO-EUROPEANS
B.BROUGHT THEIR OWN RELIGION
a.WORSHIP OF YOUNG WARRIOR GOD
b.OR SUPREME FATHER GOD
C.INDO-EUROPEAN MALE DEITY MOST OFTEN PORTRAYED AS
STORM GOD
D.IN SOME AREAS GOD ANNEXED TO GODDESS AS HUSBAND
a.AS IN ANATOLIA STORM GOD TARU & SUN GODDESS ARINNA
b.OR ZEUS & HERA
E.SOME LEGENDS MALE DEITY REBELLIOUS YOUNG MAN
a.HEROICALLY DESTROYED OLDER FEMALE DEITY
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(1)MARDUK DESTROYED TIAMAT
F.IN MANY OF THESE NEWER MYTHS OF MALE POWER
a.FEMALE DEITY IS SYMBOLIZED AS SERPENT OR DRAGON
b.& THESE ICONS MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH DARKNESS
& EVIL
G.GRADUALLY OVER TIME THESE CONCEPTS MERGED
H.& EVENTUALLY SUPPLANTED WORSHIP OF GODDESS
2.MESOPOTAMIA AREA - GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS TRANSFORMATION
A.MANY ELEMENTS OF MOTHER GODDESS MYTH REMAINED INTACT
B.BUT ROLE OF NAMMU
a.NOW KNOWN AS TIAMAT = SALT-WATER OCEAN
b.CONSIDERABLY REDUCED
C.WITH AID THIS TIME OF APSU = SWEET-WATER OCEAN"
a.SHE GAVE BIRTH TO GODS
b.ALSO TO DEMONS, SCORPION MEN & CENTAURS
D.ULTIMATELY HERO GOD MARDUK SLEW HER WITH AID OF
a.LIGHTNING, HURRICANE & FLAME
b.SPLIT HER DOWN MIDDLE
c.& SET UP HALF HER BODY TO MAKE PEOPLE
E.MALE GOD NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATION -NOT GODDESS
F.WHO IS DOING UPGRADING OF MALES OR CHANGING MYTHS?
a.PRIESTS
3.EGYPT - ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CHANGES
A.PRIESTS OF MEMPHIS
a.WHERE ISIS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS AT PHILAE
B.THEY PROPOSED ANOTHER CONCEPT OF GREAT FATHER GOD
a.HIS NAME PTAH
b.TEXTS CONCERNING PTAH SUGGEST HE BEFORE ANYONE
ELSE
c.& IT WAS THROUGH ACT OF MASTURBATION THAT PTAH
CAUSED ALL OTHER GODS TO COME INTO BEING
(1)THUS TOTALLY ELIMINATING NEED FOR DIVINE
ANCESTRESS LIKE NUT
4.CONCLUSIONS
A.ALL ANCIENT CULTURES EXCEPT FOR HEBREWS GAVE
SUPERNATURAL POWERS TO FEMALE GODDESSES
B.IN O.T. MUCH DENIGRATION OF PAGAN WORSHIPPING
a.WHICH INCLUDED GODDESS WORSHIP
C.LAST ASSAULTS BY HEBREWS & EVENTUALLY CHRISTIANS OF
EARLY CENTURIES
a.500 A.D. CHRISTIAN EMPERORS CLOSED DOWN LAST OF
GODDESSES TEMPLES
D.WHICH FINALLY SUPPRESSED WORSHIP OF MOTHER GODDESS
E.ONE OF MOST PROMINENT SCHOLAR W.F. ALBRIGHT
a.FEMALE RELIGION IS ORGIASTIC NATURE WORSHIP,
SENSUOUS NUDITY & GROSS MYTHOLOGY...IT WAS
REPLACED BY ISRAEL WITH ITS PASTORAL SIMPLICITY
& PURITY OF LIFE, ITS LOFTY MONOTHEISM & ITS
SEVERE ODE OF ETHICS.