The Great Goddess: Reverence of the Divine Feminine from the Paleolithic to the Present

By Jean Markale

Book Overview

* A study of the primordial figure of the Great Goddess and her continued worship through time as shown by the myths, shrines, and sanctuaries around the world that honor this powerful symbol of creation. * A noted historian on pre-Christian societies provides an extensive worldwide listing of sites and sanctuaries associated with goddess worship. * Explores goddess worship in cultures around the world, including Native American, Egyptian, Indian, and Oriental civilizations. * Demonstrates that although her worship has sometimes been forced underground it has never disappeared. In ancient Babylon she was Anat, in Egypt, Isis and Hathor, Dana in Celtic Ireland, Rhea and Demeter in Greece, and in India, Anapurna the Provider. She is the Great Goddess, the Goddess of Beginnings, the symbol of Earth and the giver of life, the Vast Mother, who represents all the powers and mysteries of creation for early humanity. Shifting her solar association onto masculine deities and blackening those of her symbols that, like the serpent, could not be assimilated, patriarchal societies forced the preeminent power of the feminine into an obscure and subservient position. Yet, as shown by noted scholar Jean Markale, the Goddess did not simply disappear when her position was usurped, and the power she represents has been the source of continuous religious devotion from ancient times through the Middle Ages up to the present day. In looking at the plethora of myths, sites, and sanctuaries devoted to this powerful figure, The Great Goddess provides abundant evidence of the extraordinary permanence of her worship--even at the heart of those religions that tried to destroy her.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0892817151
• ISBN13: 9780892817153
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Inner Traditions International
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Pleased with my experience with this seller.

The book arrived in a timely manner in the condition it was advertised to be.

Great Book

I love the book and I received it in good time and in great condition.

Not to be read in one sitting

Very well written (although a bit dry) analytical comparison of the various ancient goddess figures found throughout European archaeological sites. Difficult to read quickly due to the author's writing style. Also, I was very disappointed that there were no illustrations/photographs of the figures mentioned, nor any maps of the locations they were found at. But overall, a very good effort.

Well worth the reading effort

This is a book that I bought after reading Markale's previous book Women of the Celts. I have to admit first that it was dry in some areas but picked up in others. Much of his focus is from a scholarly level and he focuses mostly on the many images of the Feminine Divine in both Art and sculputer. The purpose of his book I believe is to show that while the image and focus of the Goddess changed that she did not completely vanish but simply took on a new form. This book shows that the people's love for the Goddess was so strong that she could not be rid of by those who sought to destroy both Her worship and image.As to the previous review it was said that Markale refered to the Sheela and "Terrifying" etc...This is true for to many people within the current mind set the sheela can be a terrifying image as can be many of the faces of the Goddess. Markale was not calling the Goddess names or making nasty judgements but I believe was attempting to show how she was viewed by others and that yes these images can give us feeling of terror due to our hiding away those parts of both ourselves and the goddess.I say read the book for yourself and make your own judgement. Not half bad.