The Concept of the Goddess

ISBN-13: 9780415197892 / Angielski / Miękka / 1998 / 208 str.

Sandra Billington

Opis

This volume is a study of the female aspect of religion in both past and present mythologies. It explores the function and nature of goddesses and their cults in many cultures, including Celtic, Roman, Norse, Caucasian and Japanese traditions. The contributors explore the reasons for the existence of so many goddesses in the mythological traditions of largely patriarchal societies. They demonstrate how, in many myths, the female deity is seen as more ambivalent than her male counterparts, curing and cursing at whim. They highlight the fact that goddesses do not play primarily feminine roles in myths; war, hunting and sovereignty being equally important aspects of their cults.

Recenzje

'An impressive and scholarly volume.' - Lynn Meskell, At the Edge

'Very highly recommended.' - The Cauldron

'... an outstanding source of information about goddesses not only of northern Europe, including Britain and Ireland, but also of Rome, the Caucasus and Japan.' - Wood and Water

'Highly recommended [it] illuminate[s] a profound understanding of the goddess, heretofore largely neglected by scholars or else romanticized by popular books.' - Annabel Lee, Runa

Spis treści

List of illustrations, Notes on contributors, Preface: the life and work of Hilda Ellis Davidson, Introduction, 1 The concept of the Goddess, 2 The Celtic Goddess as healer, 3 Now you see her, now you don’t: some notes on the conception of female shape-shifters in Scandinavian traditions, 4 Freyja and Frigg, 5 Freyja—a goddess with many names, 6 Meg and her Daughters: some traces of goddess-beliefs in megalithic folklore?, 7 Milk and the Northern Goddess, 8 Coventina’s Well, 9 Nemesis and Bellona: a preliminary study of two neglected goddesses, 10 Fors Fortuna in Ancient Rome, 11 Transmutations of an Irish goddess, 12 Aspects of the earth-goddess in the traditions of the banshee in Ireland, 13 The Caucasian hunting-divinity, male and female: traces of the hunting-goddess in Ossetic folklore, 14 The Mistress of the Animals in Japan: Yamanokami, Index

O autorze

Sandra Billington, Miranda Green