The Matriarchal Society
10
DISCUSSION OF HOW IT PERTAINS TO ANCIENT AND PRESENT DAY MYTHOLOGIES
Transcript of The Matriarchal Society
DISCUSSION OF HOW IT PERTAINS TO ANCIENT AND PRESENT DAY MYTHOLOGIES
Political, economic, social and religious foundation focuses on agricultural year.
Societies had a cyclical view of life. Natural progression is as follows: birth, maturity, death and rebirth.
The development of lives and life was among plants and animals.
Great goddessMother goddessMother Earth
Birth and childhoodFertile period-maturity and reproduction
Sterile period-decline and death
Spring-period of (re)birthSummer-period of fertility and harvest
Winter-period of decay, barrenness and death
New and waxing moon-(re)birth
Full moon-period of maturityWaning moon-death and dormancy
Source of all human lifeSource of all foodSocieties produce children and food
Queen embodied the spirit of the Great Goddess.
All women were highly valued.Women held important positions.Women were heads of families.The youngest daughter inherited everything.
Men were used primarily for procreation.
SACRED KING◦one year◦contests◦Sacrificed at a religious ceremony at harvest time
Men began to gain more power.Sacred kings ruled for eight years.Surrogate kings were sacrificed for fertility.
2400 BCE=male dominated aggressors went after matriarchal societies and brought (1) social order, (2) political order, (3) heredity ruling and (4) animals as sacrifice
