Women in MythSUNY Press, 1997 M01 1 - 270 pages In Women in Myth, Bettina L. Knapp explores the role played by women in ancient societies through analysis of specific myths from nine different lands. The author probes issues as to how figures such as Isis, Tiamat, Dido, Camilla, Deborah, Iphigenia, Salome, Sita, Amaterasu, Nu-Kwa, and others - some of whom were goddesses - fared. She discusses their abilities and their outlooks, whether their views were gender oriented or androgynous, whether they were deprived of the most basic human rights or excluded from the highest functions of religious worship. Knapp explores whether or not these women had done battle, led armies, founded states, ruled lands, or experienced identity crises. She allows the reader to establish parallels as well as dichotomies between the lives of ancient and contemporary women. The reliving of specific episodes from thousands of years ago as reported in the great myths brings insights into certain relationships and sheds light on events and their ramifications in today's home and workplace. |
Contents
Harmony of FleshSpiritLogos | 1 |
The Feminine Maligned | 21 |
JudgeProphetPoetMilitary Leader | 45 |
Marriage or Sacrificial Altar? | 69 |
MotherDaughter Identification | 87 |
Let Us Sing of Arms and WomenDido and Camilla | 111 |
The Divine Amaterasu | 141 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aeneas Aeneas's Aeneid Amaterasu ancient and/or Antipas Antipas's Apsu archetypal Artemis Atum Ayodhya Barak beautiful became become birth body brother Camilla Canaanite Carthage century B.C.E. Ch'ang-O Chinese consciousness considered cosmic cult culture dance daughter death Deborah deity Dido Dido's divine earth earthly Egyptian emperor energy Enuma Elish eternal evil existence father fear feelings female feminine force forest goddess gods Greek Heaven Herod Herodias Hindu Horus Hsi Wang Hsi Wang Mu human husband ibid identified immortality inner Iphigenia Isis Isis's Israelites Izanagi Jael Josephus Judg Kami king Kojiki Kuan Yin Lakshmana land living Lord male Marduk marriage moon mortal mystery myth Nihongi Nü Kwa Osiris Osiris's patriarchal personality primordial psyche psychological Queen Mother Rama Rama's Ramayana religious represented ritual role ruler sacred sacrifice Salome sexual Shinto Sisera Sita Sita's society spheres spiritual subliminal Susano-wo symbolically thou Tiamat tion transformed unconscious wife woman women worship