The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece
eBook - PDF

The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece

  1. English
  2. PDF
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece

About this book

Greek religion is filled with strange sexual artifacts - stories of mortal women's couplings with gods; rituals like the basilinna's "marriage" to Dionysus; beliefs in the impregnating power of snakes and deities; the unusual birth stories of Pythagoras, Plato, and Alexander; and more. In this provocative study, Marguerite Rigoglioso suggests such details are remnants of an early Greek cult of divine birth, not unlike that of Egypt. Scouring myth, legend, and history from a female-oriented perspective, she argues that many in the highest echelons of Greek civilization believed non-ordinary conception was the only means possible of bringing forth individuals who could serve as leaders, and that special cadres of virgin priestesses were dedicated to this practice. Her book adds a unique perspective to our understanding of antiquity, and has significant implications for the study of Christianity and other religions in which divine birth claims are central. The book's stunning insights provide fascinating reading for those interested in female-inclusive approaches to ancient religion.

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Yes, you can access The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece by M. Rigoglioso in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Theology & Religion & Ancient History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Note about Citation Style
  5. Introduction
  6. 1 A Taxonomy of Divine Birth Priestesshoods
  7. 2 Divinity, Birth, and Virginity: The Greek Worldview
  8. 3 Athena’s Divine Birth Priestesshood
  9. 4 Artemis’s Divine Birth Priestesshood
  10. 5 Hera’s Divine Birth Priestesshood
  11. 6 The Divine Birth Priestesshood at Dodona
  12. 7 The Divine Birth Priestesshood at Delphi
  13. 8 Is Virgin Birth Possible? And Other Outrageous Questions
  14. Notes
  15. References
  16. Index