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Goddess Myth Projects
Index
Writing Directions
This assignment asks you to survey a variety of sources. Your task is to synthesize and organize the material and to draw some conclusions about how different cultures or groups at different times in history (including our times) have interpreted and re-interpreted the material to make it reflect their values, particularly their views of gender. Your final essay/class presentation should include the following elements:
- Skim this brief introduction: Gifts of the Goddess. (Other recommended overviews: Maiden, Mother, Crone; Oh, Goddess; and Descent of the Gods--a mythic account of the beginning of violence against women).
- Select one of the following categories. (Initially, pick your top three preferences. If possible, I'll give everyone his/her first choice).
- Briefly summarize the commonly known version(s) of the goddess/myth. Usually this will be the patriarchal revision (Greek myths, for instance) or the European/Western Culture's (usually Christian or Jewish) mis-interpretation of an earlier divine feminine myth.
- Identify the ways in which this "standard" version subordinates women or supports male dominance/privilege or denigrates the image and powers of the goddess.
- Explain the alternate version(s) (usually pre-patriarchal, modern feminist, or non-European/Western) that restore(s) the goddess to her full powers and status. How does this version empower women and/or present female power, wisdom, sovereignty, creativity, transformation, etc., in positive terms?
- Include one picture of the goddess (copies to be given to the class) and identify the particular goddess traits, symbols, and other items associated with her.
- Indicate some contemporary popular culture "reincarnations" or transformations of the goddess myth. Are they masculinist (supporting male dominance/privilege), feminist (supporting equality and inclusiveness), or mixed/ambiguous? If the latter, in what ways are they sending mixed signals?
- Graduate Students: In addition to the above material, also survey the academic controversies about nature-religions and goddess-spirituality research. See the links on my Eco-feminist Literature web page.
- Add another page listing and numbering your web sources under the heading Web Sites Consulted. NOTE: Remember--do not borrow language from your sources unless you put those words in quotation marks. For most of this assignment, you should be paraphrasing/summarizing in language very different than in the original, but paraphrases/summaries must have a source cited also.
Goddess Myth Resources
- Gorgons, Medusa, Athena
- Devi, Durga, Kali (India)
- Eve, Lilith
- Amazons, Artemis
- Persephone, Demeter, Hecate
- Gaia, Cybele, Magna Mater
- Yemaya, Oshun, Oya (Orisha)
- Coatalique, Tonantzin, Guadalupe (Aztec)
- Macha, Morrigan, Brigit (Celtic)
- Izanami, Amaterasu ; Nu Kua, Kwan Yin (Japanese/Chinese)
- Isis, Mary, Black Madonna, Sophia
- Spider Woman, Changing Woman; Ixchel (Amerindian)
- Ianna, Astarte, Ishtar, Aphrodite
GORGONS, MEDUSA, ATHENA
- Neith/Nit
- Medusa (Sacred Source).
- Gorgon Medusa
- The Gorgons by Kottke--Also click Myth of Perseus & Medusa
- Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa--story told from viewpoint of Perseus
- The Gorgon Medusa
- Medusa as doorknocker/beautiful woman
- Athena by Ortengren
- The Mistress (snake goddess of Minoa)
- Athene--includes her connection with Minoan Snake Goddess
- Athene (2)--humorous, but accurate retelling of the Athene myths
- Athena (3)
- Athena: Goddess of Wisdom
- Ancient Archetypes and Modern Manifestations
- Medusa and Pegasus--many links
- Medusa (2)
- Athena links
- The Laugh of Medusa Resource Page
- Medusa in Myth and Literary History
DEVI, DURGA, KALI (India)
- Devi: The Great Goddess--excellent Smithsonian exhibit, click on the NEXT arrows at bottom of page to see the entire exhibit.
- Virtual Temple--Go to Shrine link and click on the Parvathi link. (The entire site provides a good introduction to some of the important Gods and Goddesses.)
- Durga Jagadhatri (Sacred Source)
- Durga-Devi (Sacred Source).
- Durga
- Kali--impressive graphics
- Kali (2)
- Mother Goddess as Kali (another source: Mother Goddess); related images: Kali (3) and Kali Shiva and Kali Dancing.
- The Shrine of Kali
- Kali (4)
- Kali (5)
- Kali (6)
- Shri Kalika Devi
- Altar of the Goddess as Destroyer (Kali-ma); another address: Altar of the Goddess as Destroyer (Kali-ma) [2]
- The Divine Destructress
- Kali and the Hibiscus (Sagewoman)
- Some Tales of the Great Goddess (Durga)
- Awakening Devi
- Chamunda-Devi--long but excellent essay
- Kali in Hollywood--Spielberg's mis-use of the Kali myths. (Another copy: Hollywood.)
EVE, LILITH
- Lilith (Sacred Source)
- Eve and the Identity of Women--also covers Lilith
- Lilith (2)
- Lilith: Destroyer, Mother, Goddess
- The Lilith Institute
- Lilith (3)
- Lilith (4) -- impressive set of links, but many are probably too "technical" for our purposes. See particularly Essay by Jeffrey Smith; Renae Rosen's Lilith Shrine--historical and contemporary interpretations; Alejandro Arturo Gonzalez Terriza: Isis, Lilith, Gello.
- Eve
- Lilithfair
- Special Section: Lilith Fair--see Who is Lilith Anyway; From Myths to Music Festivals; The Lilith Legacy.
- Lilith Name Dangerous, Falwell newspaper says
- Lilith's World --many links
- Lilith (5) (Independent Jewish Women's Magazine)
- Changing Literary Representations of Lilith
- Korean Lilith/Lamia
- Cinemyths: Contemporary Films
- Understanding Lilith
- The Genesis Factor
AMAZONS, ARTEMIS
- Artemis--good links at bottom of page
- Artemis (2) (Sacred Source); related images: Diana with wolf and Diana with Hound and Diana of Ephesus.
- The New AmazoNation--many, many links
- The Amazons
- The Amazons by Snider
- Archaelogy of the Amazons
- The Amazons (2)--four-part essay;click on the different sections at bottom of page.
- Amazons
- Amazons (2); Artemis (3)
- Amazons (3)
- Artemis (4)
- Artemis (5)
- Artemis (6)
- Artemis by Coffey
- Artemis Diana Altar (another source: Artemis Diana Altar (2))
- Artemis: Goddess of the Hunt
- Woman Warriors--Greek Mythology to 19th Century; includes African and Asian warrior queens
- The Fatal Hero: Diana, Deity of the Moon, as Archetype
- Artemis links
- The Enduring Popularity of Courtly Love (Diana of Ephesus)
PERSEPHONE, DEMETER, HECATE; INANNA/ERESHKEGAL (The Triple Goddess)
- Demeter. (Sacred Source)
- Hecate (Sacred Source).
- Demeter and Kore (Persephone)
- Demeter and Persephone by Paolicchi
- Persephone
- Hecate (2)
- Demeter (2)
- Hel (scroll down to "Persephone")
- Demeter (3)
- Demeter: Goddess of the Harvest
- The Eleusinian Mysteries
- A Call to the Mysteries
- Myth of Demeter and Persephone by Spretnak
- Persephone's Underworld Journey
- Hecate (3)
- Hecate (4)
- Hecate (5) --Also click Hecate Myths at bottom of page
- Demeter links
- Inanna
- Inanna of Fertility (Sacred Source); related image: Inanna of Power
- Inanna (2)
- The Changing Image of the Goddess Inanna/Ishtar
GAIA, CYBELE, MAGNA MATER (The Great Mother Goddess)
- Cybele/Rhea (Sacred Source); Related image: Cybele Drumming
- Rhea
- Gaia -- At bottom of page, click Continued--a number of links to follow here
- Who Is Gaia?--Gaia as Metaphor; Gaia as Model; Gaia as Movement; Gaia as Myth
- Magna Mater
- Gaia conspiracy
- Gaia: Earth Mother
- Gaea
- Earth Mother
- Venus of Willendorf
- Earthdance, chapter 13
- Gaia: Science, Metaphor, or Myth
- Cybele--many good links at bottom of page
- Cybele (2)
- Myth of Attis and Cybele--exported fromThrace
- Cybele Great Goddess of Asia Minor (same essay:Pagan Goddess of the Sibyl and Cybele Oracle) --long and hard-to-read, but fascinating study.
- Cybele and the East
- Cybele the Ancient One
- Hera (Sacred Source)
- Hera: Queen of the Gods
- The Pagan Roots of Environmentalism--writer seems a bit skeptical, but provides a thorough update.
YEMAYA, OSHUN, OYA
(Orishas from Africa and African Diaspora)
NOTE: I recommend reading several of these "overviews" before working on the female orishas:
- Yoruba Spiritual System and Philosophy
- The Religion in Africa and Cuba
- Santeria
- What is Santeria?--links to "orishas,"
- "rhythms," and "trance possession."
- Origins of Voodoo
- West African Dahomean Vodoun--history, definitions
- Common Misconceptions about Vodoun
- Yamoja's Page
- Yemaya, the Great Mother--click on all SEVEN pages to see the various aspects of Yemaya
- Ocean Mermaid (Sacred Source)
- Yemaya / Ymoja / Iamanja / Imanja / Yemanja
- Yemaya links
- Mami Wata Healing Society of North America--many, many links
- Mamiwata, the more than beautiful woman (alternate source: Mamiwata (2))
- Common Misconceptions: Mami Wata
- Oshun (Sacred Source).
- Oshun Lures Ogun and Oshun's Flight (two tales)
- Ochun, Goddess of Love--click on all SIX pages for the various incarnations of Ochun
- Oshun (2) (painting)
- Our Lady of Class Struggle--African Ezili and Virgin Mary, excerpt from Ch. 5.
- Erzulie, Tragic Mistress
- Oya of the Winds (Sacred Source).
- Yansa, Goddess of the Winds (Oya)--click on all FIVE pages to see the various aspects of Yansa/Oya
- Keys to Feminine Empowerment--the Oya/Buffalo Woman connection
- Dark Goddess in Vodou (Erzili et al)
- Orisha Art--contemporary images of Ochun (#2), Yemaya (#8), Oya (#12), and other gods
- African Realm--overview of goddesses from several different traditions
COATLIQUE, TONANTZIN, GUADELUPE (Mesoamerican)
- Aztec: The Four Hundred
- Central American Gods/Goddesses--scroll down to Coatlicue (Myth 1 and Myth 2)
- Coatlique (Cleansing Mother)
- Statue of Coatlique
- The Earth Mother
- Coatlicue (murals)
- Tonantzin (scroll down the page to her name)
- Virgin of Guadalupe --Catholic version
- Our Lady of Guadalupe--images
- La Virgen of Guadalupe--Aztec iconography explained
- Handbook of Texas: Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe--refers to feminist objections
- Performing Colonialism--Guadalupe's connection with Tonantzin.
- The Lady of Guadalupe: Invented Myth or Strange Reality?
- Feminist reinterpretation of Guadalupe and Lopez's artwork.
- Contemporary reinterpretations of Guadalupe--many links to artworks
- The Aztec Goddess Tonantzin & the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe--excellent links here; see Feast of Coatlaxopeuhl--long skeptical essay--and Dark Mother of the Lost and Forsaken
- Winter Pilgrimage to Tepeyac
- From Llorona to Gritona: Coatlicue in Feminist Tales--scholarly article; read first dozen paragraphs in particular.
MACHA, MORRIGAN, BRIGHID (Celtic Goddesses)
- Brigit (Sacred Source); related image: Brigantia
- Queen of Air and Darkness
- Brigit (2); see also Brighid, Bright Goddess of the Gael (alternate sources: Brigid, Bright Goddess)
- Brigid, Bringer of Light
- Candlemas Customs and Lore
- Brigid (symbols)
- Celtic Well--Imbolc and Brighid; many links
- Lady of the Depths: Primal Goddess of Celtic Shamanism
- Celtic Women--general; Macha; Gwenhwyfar
- Morrigan (plus Macha and Morgan)
- Macha/Morrigan (Sacred Source).
- The Lament of Macha--poem; Goddess Fires at Candlemas--annotations (both on one page in this frame version)
IZANAMI, AMATERASU; NU KUA, KUAN YIN (Asian Goddesses)
- Shinto--background info on the religion; many links at bottom of page
- Japanese Creation Myth
- Creation: Izanami, Dancing Creatrix
- Dragonfly Isle--difficult to read, but insightful explanations about odd mythic features are buried here and there in the paragraphs
- Amaterasu: Mythic--Japan
- Mt Fuji'g Shinto Goddesses
- From Out of Mud
- DracoBlu: Nu Kua
- Kuan Yin and Tara
- Kuan Yin (Sacred Source).
- Introduction to the Kuan Yin Prophecies--with links to interpreting the prophecies
- Women and Buddhism, excerpt by Sandy Boucher
- The Legend of Tara
- Black Tara (Sacred Source); related image: Green Tara, Red Tara, and White Tara.
ISIS,
MARY, BLACK MADONNA, SOPHIA
- Isis--links to "story" and "background"
- Isis winged (Sacred Source); related images: Isis Queen and Sekmat and Isis (2)
- Isis with Horus (Sacred Source).
- Isis (3)
- Isis (4)
- Isis/Aset
- Mary Queen of Heaven
- Black Madonnas in History
- Black Madonna Le Puy (Sacred Source); related images: Black Madonna of Aurillac; Black Madonna of Meymac; Black Madonna of Monserrat
- Seeking Light in Darkness
- Black Madonna--Polish
- Mary as Goddess--many links. In particular, see Virgin; Mother (especially Isis (5); Bride; Mary Magdalen (includes Black Madonna); the Trinity
- Mary Magdalene (2) (Sacred Source)
- The Black Goddess and other Mythic Earth Images
- The Enduring Popularity of Courtly Love
- Sophia (Sacred Source)
- Ascending
- Sophia Links
SPIDER
WOMAN, CHANGING WOMAN; IXCHEL (Amerindian)
- Thinking Woman
- Spider Woman: Southwestern Native American--as creator
- Navajo Creation Story--note especially Changing Woman story; Hopi Creation Myths--Spider Woman;Hopi Creation Story and First Tale
- Creations Stories--scroll down to The Four Creations; here is an Iroquois creation myth
- Mithologies, Stories, Movies of the World--Spider Woman; First Tale
- The Children and the Hummingbird--Spider Woman tale
- Origins of the Clans (Spider Woman tale)
- At the Rainbow's End
- Old Spider Woman (fire/pottery)
- Grandmother Spider Steals Fire
- The Legend of Spider Rock
- Native Lore: Spider Woman
- North American Goddesses--scroll down to Spider Woman and Changing Woman
- Changing Woman
- Changing Woman (2)
- Changing Woman-Estsanatlehi
- Changing Woman --The Dance (or The Dance)
- Changing Woman: Myth, Metaphor, and Pragmatics.
- Amerin Goddesses.
- Ta-ja (wild cherry)
- Ixchel Weaver (Sacred Source).
- Maya Moon Goddess Ix Chel
- Ixchel
- Becoming a Woman: Apache Puberty Sunrise Ceremony--Changing Woman myth.
INANNA, ASTARTE,
ISHTAR, APHRODITE (Middle-Eastern)
- Inanna (3)
- The Goddess Inanna
- Inanna: Journey to the Dark Center
- The Goddess Ishtar
- Inanna (4)
- Asherah
- Astarte/ashtaroth
- Astarte
- Ahstoreth (Hebrew) (Astarte, Ishtar)
- Astarte (Phoenician)
- Temple of Astarte; Asherah Altar; Ishtar Ianna Altar
- The Two Babylons: Easter--treatise written in 1850s by an anti-Catholic protestant minister trying to prove the pagan basis of Catholicism. His biases show, but much of his pagan information--written in an old-fashioned 19th Century style--is very informative. NOTE: The words "papal," "popish," and "romish" refer to the Catholic church headed by the Pope in Rome
- Aphrodite
- Aphrodite/Venus
- Aphrodite (2)
- Aphrodite (3)
- Aphrodite (4)
- Iananna, A Rock Opera
- Aphrodite: Goddess of Love
- Aphrodite links
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Comments/suggestions: knichols@pittstate.edu
Updated: 8-5-03
Huntress Diana Graphic by Witch Carridwyn's Cauldron
Goddess Symbol by Crystal Cloud Graphics
