Goddesses
A History of Love and War
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Publishing:27th Oct '26
£25.00
This title is due to be published on 27th October, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
A groundbreaking history of the ancient goddesses of love and war
The figure of a goddess who represents both love and war can be found in cultures across the ancient world. These societies were all polytheistic, and all worshipped such deities as Venus, Freya, and the Morrigan. What was it about this model of divine femininity that ancient people in Europe and the Near East found so attractive?
In this vivid account, Ronald Hutton traces the history of eight key goddesses in ancient societies. Looking at the Sumerian Inanna, ancient Greek Aphrodite, and Egyptian Hathor, amongst others, Hutton compares the characters of these female deities and examines how and why such a figure reoccurred so often. Ranging from Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine to western Europe, this fascinating story provides a deeper understanding of two of the most powerful and intractable human impulses: love and war.
“This splendid book will fascinate readers interested in comparing manifestations of the divine feminine. Hutton sheds expert light on seven great goddesses from Northern Europe to the Middle East, revealing unexpected similarities.”—Mark Williams, author of Ireland's Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth
“In this fascinating book, Ronald Hutton reveals that ancient peoples in Europe and the Near East worshipped goddesses who were patronesses of both love and war. This engrossing account will appeal to anyone interested in ancient religions.”—Jan Bremmer, author of Greek Religion
“Hutton takes the reader on a spirited romp through time and space to trace the development of myths about the goddesses who ruled over love and war. Along the way, readers will meet a cast of characters not for the faint of heart, for they represent nothing less than the passions at the heart of human existence.”—Sabina Magliocco, author of Witching Culture
ISBN: 9780300290721
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
304 pages