Ancient Goddesses of the Middle East - Essay Example

ANCIENT GODDESSES OF THE MIDDLE EAST When one has to make a survey, the present-day concept of a goddess is limited only to pagan practices. With the modernization and industrialization, man tends to focus on what his hands have made rather than on sources of power beyond his reach. However, it cannot be erased from human mind to call the earth as Mother Earth. The word "mother" has several connotations. One is: it is the source of life or the major component of procreation. Out of her springs life and she is almost synonymous to tender loving care. The goddess has been prominent in cultures throughout history and even way back to the Neolithic times. However, during the past few thousand years, women have experienced marginalization from their power source. In the male dominated religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the female aspect of the Creator has been put aside. History reveals that remnants of the Goddess worshippers were annihilated because they were considered witches. It is alarming to note also that it was all done in the name of a loving God.1 The following information can be retrieved from Lost Goddesses Writing Found2 by Dean Adams Curtis By 4500 BC, the European continent hosted a flourishing group of Goddess worshipping cultures. Over the preceding two millennia, from about 6500 BC to 4500 BC, these cultures had undergone a peaceful evolution, and by the end of this time achieved what could properly be called a Golden Age of Old European civilization. They produced arts and crafts of remarkable quality. Communities achieved populations of many thousands and were laid out in a planned manner. Towns were located at consistently even distances from each other, with larger cities acting as religious and trade centers. According to Curtis, the peoples of this era believe and practice their religion in all aspects of their lives such as life, death, regeneration that is embodied in the female power, that is, the Goddess. Proof of this are the figurines and sculptures, the burial rites, the rich religious symbolism that were rampant during that age. Religion was so much a part of their lives that even ordinary chores like weaving was done inside the temples. It is almost common knowledge that in the present-day witchcraft, the central figure is a woman, the Goddess or the Great Mother. She represents life and fertility. She symbolizes the living force that connects all things in nature and the whole universe. She serves both as the creator and the destroyer. She is also called the Queen of Heaven as well as the moon. The Great Mother is endowed with magical powers and is often associated with feelings, intuition and the psychic faculty. Scholars agree that the Goddess is supposed to be without gender, however within the universe both the male and the female principles do exist. Furthermore, both in the Goddess worship both the male and the female principles are acknowledged.3 It is also recorded that, the Goddess has many features, titles and characteristics. At present however, particularly in witchcraft and Neo-paganism, she is worshipped as the triple Goddess such as the Virgin, the Mother and the Crone. Record shows that goddess worship dates back to Paleolithic times. Many anthropologists believe that the first "God" or gods of the peoples were feminine in nature. There is the so-called self-fertilization such as the ones mentioned in ancient creation myths and beliefs that all things came to order through this method. It means that there was no participation of a male counterpart and that the Goddess did all the creation by herself. Thus, it can be noted that the agricultural rituals and religions acknowledge that the gods were only successful because of the blessings of wisdom and goodness from the Great Goddess. This is evident in the existence of many matriarchal societies and tribes in the past. However, no concrete evidence can pinpoint that either of the gods or goddesses are superior to the other. The Great Goddess does not lord it over the male gods. In other words, this aspect of authority of one over the other is not much of an issue in the past. The gods and goddesses co-exist. In addition, there were human images that were discovered dating back to the Cro-Magnons of the Upper Paleolithic period between 35,000 and 10,000 BC that were considered Venuses with exaggerated and distorted female organs. . Moreover, there were other interesting images of goddesses in southern France that depicts them as warriors, giving birth, naked, hunters, and others.4 Still, other female figurines were discovered dating back to the proto-Neolithic period of ca, 9000 - 7000 BC, the Middle Neolithic period of ca. 6000 - 5000 BC, and the Higher Neolithic period of ca. 4500 - 3500 BC. These figurines were well-decorated and considered as religious icons. Cave images of the Horned Goddess (later Isis, ca. 7000 - 6000 BC) show the Black Goddess images appeared to represent a bisexual and self-fertilizing woman. History shows the goddess during the predynastic Egyptian period, prior to 3110 BC, as the as Ta-Urt (Great One). She was portrayed as a pregnant hippopotamus that stands on her hind legs. Moreover, among the halaf culture around the Tigris River, ca. 5000 - 4000 BC, they had Goddess figurines that appeared like a cow, serpent, humped ox, sheep, goat, pig, bull, dove and double ax.5 On the other hand, during the Sumerian civilization, ca. 4000 BC, the princesses or queens of cities were considered to be like the Goddess while the king was often associated with God. The goddess image has evolved with time. She also covers a vast area of control such as: creatress, virgin, mother, destroyer, warrior, huntress, homemaker, wife, artist, jurist, healer and sorcerer. Along with the growth of cultures that worshiped her, her roles or abilities also increased. She could represent a queen with a consort, or lover. She might bear a son who died young or was sacrificed only to rise again representing the annual birth-death-rebirth cycle of the seasons. With the coming of the Christian religion, the goddess worship is all the more marginalized. The Roman Catholic Church itself tried to eradicate this pagan worship from the face of the earth it conquered.6 However, despite its attempts, this goddess worship has remained even in the sidelines. According to the Middle East Mythology: The Gods Of Old Testament Times7, the current top ten of the gods is as follows: 1st : Satan 2nd : Jesus 3rd : Yahweh 4th : Jehovah 5th : Ahura-Mazda 6th : Beelzebub 7th : God 8th : Allah 9th : Ahriman 10th : Baal According to this source, it is assumed that the Middle-East is perhaps most notable for bringing a certain mono-God to prominence. It is from this place where the three great monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam emerged. Still the gods and goddesses still shine in the shadows. There are indeed many gods who are spread across different regions, cultures and tribes. Some scholars tried to pin them down to a particular area if possible. However, there appears to be some overlapping among regions and cultures. One goddess may be present in more than one location but just have a different name. The Goddesses of the Middle East8are numerous. The following is an alphabetical listing and brief description of each of the goddesses. The first on the list is Achamoth. Called as the Mother Goddess who gave birth to the creator of the material universe, she is name such according to early Gnostic Christians. Another goddess is Aka. She is an ancient Turkish Mother Goddess. Moreover, Al-Lat is and Arabian Moon Goddess who is known to be the Universal Source of Nourishment. It is recorded that this name is associated to Mother Earth and Her Fruits, Arabic Supreme Goddess, a triple Goddess with Al-Uzza and Menat. Oaths are sealed with the vow "By the salt, by the fire, and by Al-Lat who is the greatest of all."9 Another goddess is Al-Mah. She is a Persian Moon Goddess who is also called Nubile Woman. In addition, there is Al-Uzza or the Powerful One. She is an Arabic Goddess, the founder of Mohammeds tribe, the Koreshites, hereditary tenders of Her Sacred Stone in Mecca.The Mighty. It is reported that Mohammed worshipped this Desert Goddess of the Morning Star. Acacias are said to be her sacred tree. Furthermore, there is the goddess Anath or Strength of Life. She is worshipped by the Canaanites, Amorites, Syrians, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Phoenicians. She is also called the Queen of Heaven and Mistress of all the gods. Still another goddess is Anatu. She is the Great Mesopotamian Goddess, Ruler of the Earth and Queen of the Sky. There is also Aramaiti. She is an Iranian Earth Goddess whose language was the original language of the Christian Gospels. She is said to be the Mother of the People made of Clay. In addition, there is Arianna, the Great Goddess of Persia (Iran). Aruru - Sumero, on the other hand, is the Babylonian Great Goddess who was the original Potter who created human beings out of clay. A familiar goddess is Asherah. She has the Semitic name of the Great Goddess. Her other names are: Sacred Grove, Divine Harlot, Lady of Heaven, Queen of the Gods, Lady Who Traverses the Sea. Associated with her is the Sacred Cow. Its symbol is a stylized multi-branched tree. She is said to be the one who gives birth to the gods. She is called the Goddess of the Tree of Life and Goddess of the Grove. She is the one who gives birth and "the wet-nurse" of the gods. She is also the Ugaritic Mother Goddess. She is the Force of Life, experienced as benevolent and enduring who is found in flocks of cattle and groves of trees. She is evoked in childbirth and planting time. She sometimes appear as a naked, curly-haired Goddess riding a sacred lion and holding lilies and serpents in up-raised hands. Another minor god is Ashnan. She is the Sumerian Goddess of Grain. There is also Atthar, who is the Ancient Arabic Sun Goddess, also called the Torch of the Gods. Belit-Ilani is Babylonian Mistress of the gods. She is also known as the Evening Star of Desire. She is portrayed as a woman who bears a suckling baby on her left arm and who blesses the child with her right hand. Chaabou is the Semitic Earth Mother. Deborah, on the other hand is the Queen Bee Goddess of the early Mycenae and Anatolia. She is identified with the Tree of Life. Another is Derceto, the Babylonian Sea Goddess or the Whale of Der. Still another goddess is Dike or the Goddess of Justice. She is an aspect of the Triple Goddess with Ananke and Heimarmene. She is also known as the Pre-Hellenic Syrian Fish Mother Goddess. In addition, there is Erua, the Babylonian Queen of Heaven. She is known to control birth among all creatures in her land. Another familiar name is Fatima. She is the Arabian Moon Goddess. She is believed to be the Creatress, the Source of the Sun, and the Tree of Paradise. She is believed to have existed from the beginning of the material world. Gula is another goddess known as the Babylonian Great Goddess. She is known as the Lady of Birth and the Mother of Dogs. She is also called the Fate Goddess and also the Great Doctoress who could cure or cause sicknesses. Furthermore, there is Inanna, the Sumerian Queen of the Land. She is believed to be the Source of the Earth's life blood. She is known to have filled the wells, rivers and springs with her blood in 2,000 B.C.E. Juniper is her tree. She is also known as the Queen of Heaven, the Sumerian (Iraq) Queen Moon, and the Great Goddess of the Bronze Age. She is often depicted standing with two winged lions. She is called the Ruler of all stars and planets, and rain clouds. There is also Ishtar, the Babylonian Great Goddess, the Star, and the Light of the World. She is also called the Righteous judge, the Lawgiver, the Bestower of Strength, the Lady of Victory, and the Forgiver of Sins. She is also called the Mother of Harlots, the Compassionate Prostitute and the Framer of all decrees. She is often depicted in breast-offering pose as the Mother of the fruitful breast. Juniper is sacred to her. In addition, Kadi is the Babylonian Goddess of Der. She is a Serpent with a woman's head and breasts. Also, there is Lilith with the totem as the owl. She is the Divine Lady. In Jewish mythology, she was Adam's first wife (before Eve). She is a Sumero-Babylonian Goddess. Her flower is the lily. Another goddess is Manat who is the Arabic Moon Goddess. She is the Ruler of Fate, Luck and Fortune. She was venerated in a Sacred Stone at Kodaid in pre-Islamic times and was one of the Trinity of Fates worshipped at Mecca. She is the Moon Mother of Mecca who is also known as Al-Lat and Al-Uzza. Lapis Niger (Black stone) is sacred to her. Other minor goddesses are: Mari, the Mother Sea who is called the Great Fish who gave birth to the gods. She is the Fruitful Mother and the Middle Eastern Sun Goddess; Shayba is the Arabic-Aramaean title of the Great Goddess. Shayba was Old Woman whose spirit dwelt in the Sacred Stone of the Kaaba in Mecca; Shebat is the Mesopotamian Moon Goddess; Shekina is the Jewish Cabalistic version of Shakti, also known as the Soul of God. God required his Shekina for Wisdom and Creativity; Tiamat is the Serpent Goddess of the Watery Abyss. She is the Sumerian Creatress. She is also the Sumero-Babylonian Goddess Mother, from whose formless body the Universe was born at creation. She is the personification of The Deep also known as the Mother Sea; and Tirgata, the Fish Goddess of Syria. As can be seen in the descriptions and characteristics of many if not all of the Middle Eastern goddesses, the most common quality is their being a mother or a creatress. These goddesses are associated with life, fertility and procreation. In this way, they all serve as the epitome of tender loving care for they are able to give and sustain life. Along with their power to create is their ability to show compassion, forgiveness, understanding and gentleness to those who do wrong. They also exercise justice and stability. Because they are women, they appear to be the opposite of the stern, strong and vindictive male gods. Their compassion brings in the gentle yet nurturing side of their deity. It is important to note that the goddesses that are mentioned above are only the ones from the Middle East and that they are already numerous. If other areas of the world are to be included, it would mean that the earth is indeed full of female deities who, along with Mother Earth, care, oversee, and protects the world. These goddesses are often ignored but their roles in human life are as important as man's very need for survival and existence. Finally, after knowing these facts about the presence and existence of goddess worship, it appears that no amount of human effort can ever erase it from earthly life, and life would not be complete or normal without them. These muses serve as man's inspiration and reminder that life cannot be possible without the woman. Works Cited Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with A Thousand Faces. Princeton University Press, 1973. Campbell, Joseph. Transformations of Myth through Time. Harper & Row, 1990. Graves, Robert. New Encyclopedia of Mythology. Hamlyn, 1983. Hallam, Elizabeth. Gods and Goddesses. Macmillan, 1996. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. Little, Brown and Company, 1942. Jayakar, Pupul. The Earth Mother: Legends, Ritual Arts, and Goddesses of India. Harper & Row, 1990 Leeming, David & Jake Page. Goddess - Myths of the Female Divine. Oxford University Press, 1994 Middle East Mythology: The Gods of Old Testament. (10 April 2010) Mother Goddess. (10 April 2010) Oda, Mayumi. Goddesses. Lancaster-Miller Publishers, 1981. Seth, Kailash Nath. Gods and Goddesses of India. Diamond Pocket Books. Spence, Lewis. Egypt - Myths and Legends. Studio Editions Limited, 1994. Stein, Diane. The Goddess Book of Days. Llewellyn, 1989. Stone, Merlin. Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood. Beacon Press, 1984. Walker, Barbara. The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred Objects. Harper & Row, 1988. Walker, Barbara. The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Harper & Row, 1983. Read More