The return of the goddess
27 February 2015, published by LITTLEROCK.com.mt
All this talk about spirituality, religion and god... but what about the goddess? Has "She" been forgotten? It was not like that in the days of old. The ancients loved their goddess.
She represented the virgin, the mother, the martyr... but also the seductress, the crone and the witch. Perhaps that is why She - in all her forms - was eventually pushed under the carpet and hidden away, remembered only in stories and legends. She was dismissed as "emotion" or "instability" when any of those facets made an appearance in a real life woman: the mysterious transformations of female energy is not something most males could understand nor relate to. Perhaps her power - both awesome and intimidating - appeared to pose a threat.
She represented the virgin, the mother, the martyr... but also the seductress, the crone and the witch. Perhaps that is why She - in all her forms - was eventually pushed under the carpet and hidden away, remembered only in stories and legends. She was dismissed as "emotion" or "instability" when any of those facets made an appearance in a real life woman: the mysterious transformations of female energy is not something most males could understand nor relate to. Perhaps her power - both awesome and intimidating - appeared to pose a threat.
Greek goddess Hera,
also known as Juno
After all, in a society led by males there would be order, and everything would be under control, right? In emerging patriarchal societies, it was imperative that women were subjugated: the system demanded males hold primary power and predominate roles of social and political leadership, and women obey their husband's authority.
Yet in many ancient cultures, before most of the religious and political institutions were formed, the female was revered. Many suggest that ancient societies were matriarchal: the elders were wise women; the kingdom was ruled by a queen; the predominant idea of god was actually of goddess; the female was honoured as the sustainer of life and, as mother, she was love personified.
Some say the shift began at around 3000 BC. It would appear that the matriarchal period of Egypt extended from prehistoric times up until the first appearance of Osiris at around that time. Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle played largely in favour of patriarchy at around 400 BC, portraying women as inferior and who should, therefore, be obedient to men. Meanwhile we find others pinpointing Christianity as another culprit. The Da Vinci Code not so long ago caused quite a stir by suggesting that Mary Magdalene was intentionally hidden from our view by the Church due to patriarchal ideals. Fiction it may be, or perhaps another conspiracy theory that may or may not be believed.
Oh oh, hear hear... I'm sure a few eyebrows have been raised already. Good. Read on. After all, we live on the island of the fertility goddess. Surely she will be pleased to know that she has not (entirely) been forgotten.
And lest we forget, we should also mention the lesser known goddess residing on this island, the Greek goddess Hera, whose 200-300 BC Roman temple is built over the remains of the Tas-Silġ megalithic temples. Hera, also known as Juno, was the wife of Zeus and queen of the ancient Greek gods. She represented the ideal woman, goddess of marriage and the family... yet she is best known for her vengeful nature, sparked by a sense of betrayal by her husband.
The recent Disney animation Maleficent springs to mind, so sweet and lovely was she as a child, so wrathful and fearsome she became when her trust was betrayed and her wings (I like to see them as a symbol of freedom) stolen from her by a man greedy to attain a power he did not hold within.
The dark goddess archetypes, complete with wings, represents the female power in all its ferocity when she feels her natural, wildish nature being forcefully tamed by control and manipulation, a betrayal in its own right.
Take Lilith, for example. It is told in legend that Lilith was the first wife of Adam, made from the same soil. She refused to subdue to him, and preferred to banish herself to hell rather than bow to him, for she was his equal. Eve was then fashioned from the rib of Adam, and therefore had no qualms about considering herself at his command.
Most of the world's Adams feel comfortable around Eve, with whom their only concern is lust, and fear the unpredictable Lilith, who is able to sweep them right off their feet and throw them into an incomprehensible turmoil.
Yet in many ancient cultures, before most of the religious and political institutions were formed, the female was revered. Many suggest that ancient societies were matriarchal: the elders were wise women; the kingdom was ruled by a queen; the predominant idea of god was actually of goddess; the female was honoured as the sustainer of life and, as mother, she was love personified.
Some say the shift began at around 3000 BC. It would appear that the matriarchal period of Egypt extended from prehistoric times up until the first appearance of Osiris at around that time. Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle played largely in favour of patriarchy at around 400 BC, portraying women as inferior and who should, therefore, be obedient to men. Meanwhile we find others pinpointing Christianity as another culprit. The Da Vinci Code not so long ago caused quite a stir by suggesting that Mary Magdalene was intentionally hidden from our view by the Church due to patriarchal ideals. Fiction it may be, or perhaps another conspiracy theory that may or may not be believed.
Oh oh, hear hear... I'm sure a few eyebrows have been raised already. Good. Read on. After all, we live on the island of the fertility goddess. Surely she will be pleased to know that she has not (entirely) been forgotten.
And lest we forget, we should also mention the lesser known goddess residing on this island, the Greek goddess Hera, whose 200-300 BC Roman temple is built over the remains of the Tas-Silġ megalithic temples. Hera, also known as Juno, was the wife of Zeus and queen of the ancient Greek gods. She represented the ideal woman, goddess of marriage and the family... yet she is best known for her vengeful nature, sparked by a sense of betrayal by her husband.
The recent Disney animation Maleficent springs to mind, so sweet and lovely was she as a child, so wrathful and fearsome she became when her trust was betrayed and her wings (I like to see them as a symbol of freedom) stolen from her by a man greedy to attain a power he did not hold within.
The dark goddess archetypes, complete with wings, represents the female power in all its ferocity when she feels her natural, wildish nature being forcefully tamed by control and manipulation, a betrayal in its own right.
Take Lilith, for example. It is told in legend that Lilith was the first wife of Adam, made from the same soil. She refused to subdue to him, and preferred to banish herself to hell rather than bow to him, for she was his equal. Eve was then fashioned from the rib of Adam, and therefore had no qualms about considering herself at his command.
Most of the world's Adams feel comfortable around Eve, with whom their only concern is lust, and fear the unpredictable Lilith, who is able to sweep them right off their feet and throw them into an incomprehensible turmoil.
Dark goddess Lilith
Yet both of Eve and Lilith exist simultaneously within a woman. Dare she allow all of herself to be seen?
The truth is that a woman's psyche really is very complex. Divine or not, the feminine is vast and varied. She is the virgin, the mother, the martyr, the seductress, the crone and the witch, all at once. She is a goddess of light and a dark goddess, at different times. She is wild and she is free, and only love can tame her.
Consider all the fairytales you have heard as a child: the evil stepmother and the cackling witch always take pride of place... until love saves the day. Today's films more and more often depict the "baddy" as a female until, yet again, love saves the day.
But one thing is evident: Woman is not cowering behind closed doors; she is out and about, showing herself in all her power and glory, whether it is light or dark. She is full-fledged emotion, she is a powerful energy and nothing can stop her. Perhaps it is about time we recognise her officially.
The fertility goddess and the Greek goddess Hera are the apex representation of what the ancient peoples of old believed: that the female is intuitive and wise, that she supports life, that she is as versatile and powerful as nature itself... and that you'd better stay on her good side.
And the goddess lived here, in Malta. Perhaps she still lives on, in dreams, and in the women of this island. I would like to salute her.
The truth is that a woman's psyche really is very complex. Divine or not, the feminine is vast and varied. She is the virgin, the mother, the martyr, the seductress, the crone and the witch, all at once. She is a goddess of light and a dark goddess, at different times. She is wild and she is free, and only love can tame her.
Consider all the fairytales you have heard as a child: the evil stepmother and the cackling witch always take pride of place... until love saves the day. Today's films more and more often depict the "baddy" as a female until, yet again, love saves the day.
But one thing is evident: Woman is not cowering behind closed doors; she is out and about, showing herself in all her power and glory, whether it is light or dark. She is full-fledged emotion, she is a powerful energy and nothing can stop her. Perhaps it is about time we recognise her officially.
The fertility goddess and the Greek goddess Hera are the apex representation of what the ancient peoples of old believed: that the female is intuitive and wise, that she supports life, that she is as versatile and powerful as nature itself... and that you'd better stay on her good side.
And the goddess lived here, in Malta. Perhaps she still lives on, in dreams, and in the women of this island. I would like to salute her.