1. Mystery Cults
13-17).
Archeological evidence supports the existence of the mother-goddess from the earliest times of man. Several Venus figurines have been found all over the world and are thought to be linked to the worship of a goddess. Venus figurines are small clay images of women. They do not have defined faces, nor do they have genitalia to define their sex. They are identified by their large waist-to hip ratio, large breasts, and large stomachs. The large stomachs represent women in the sense that so much extra weight is common in older women (Roller, 172). Sixty statues were found from the Paleolithic period, 55 of them were women (Roller, 170.). The mother-goddess traveled from the Paleolithic period, as the Venus figurine, to the start of the first millennium, as Cybele. .
She arrived in Rome, coming from Anatolia, in the year 204 BCE (Perowne, 62). Rome was caught up in the middle of the Punic wars, with Hannibal stationed in Italy. Stones (probably hail) were falling from the sky in Greece, resulting in a near frenzy for the people of faith. For the Romans, it was the beginning of a new era. The Senate was still in charge, but the Sibylline books (books of the priestesses of Apollo, associated with prophecy) were dominate over them (Zames, Cybele: History and Attributes).
It came to be known, some say rather conveniently, that a new prophecy was discovered within the Sibylline books. The prophecy stated that when the Mother-Goddess is brought over to Greece from Ida (also called Ankara or Anatolia, currently modern Asia), Hannibal would leave Italy (Ferguson, 27). This was not quite enough to convince everyone, however, and for further instruction, the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi was questioned. The Oracle of Apollo revealed that Cybele was indeed supposed to be brought into Rome. .
The Romans enlisted the aid of the king of Pergamum, Attalus. At first the king was hesitant to bring over the goddess, but due to the voice of the majority who were in favor of doing so, agreeing seemed to be his only choice.
Greek Drama534 b.c. don't know exactly. Thespis, first tragedy writer stepped out of chorus for a solo. Tragedy=goat song. Possible influence by Egyptian ritual- Isis & Osiris story. dionysia (4 celebrations each winter in Athens, featured drama contests attempting to secure fertility and crop growt...
Since the beginning of their existence Romans tended to take over other cults and incorporate them into their own religion ; cults like the one of Cybele, originally from Anatolia, Mithras from the Persians and even Isis from Egypt where adapted and incorporated in Roman society. ...
Religion in Ancient Rome Religion in ancient Roman times could be divided into two main Categories; State and Domestic Religion. However there were two other types of religion present in ancient Rome and these were Emperor Cult and Foreign Religions. Domestic Religion ...
English novelist, story writer, critic, poet and painter Lawrence is one of the greatest figures in 20th-century English literature. Lawrence's doctrines of sexual freedom arose obscenity trials, which are still part of the relationship between literature and society. He saw sex and intuition as a key to undistorted perception of reality and a way unburden individual's frustrations and maladjustment to industrial culture. In 1912 he wrote: "What the blood feels, and believes, and says, is always true." The author's frankness in describing sexual relations between men and women u...
As ancient Greek history has played such a pivotal role in subsequent cultures throughout time, that to learn about women in this society enhances our understanding of western civilization. Ancient Greece was not a united nation, but a collection of individual sovereign communities with a common language, and similar religious rituals and beliefs. Communication was difficult due to the numerous islands and mountainous terrain that bisected the communities of people. Democracy, classical art and architecture, philosophy, and drama all can trace their lineage to ancient Greece. Antique vases and...