Divine Women

[emmie]

did anyone watch this. I saw about three quarters of last nights programme, i believe it's in three parts, and would like to see the rest. Hosted by Bettany Hughes, who is an excellent presenter. If anyone did watch it, what are your thoughts.

[emmie]

and in case it's not obvious, it's about women in religion through the ages.

[naomi24]

I saw the first episode, and found it very interesting - although if she was (as she seemed to be) tracking various timelines, she did leave some important ladies out. I missed last night's episode, so perhaps she mentioned them there. I'm hoping I can catch up with it.

[Mosaic]

I watched the first episode, and to be honest I found it a bit thin. I also found it irritating to have people on screen make unsubstantiated claims that went unchallenged, notably the Indian academic who stated that Dhurga's cult must have developed from the existence of tribes of fighting women.
Xena, warrior princess...?

[naomi24]

Mosaic, I agree with you. There were too many assumptions - but then like most things mythological - and even often historical - the 'experts' slot them in where it suits them.

[rowanwitch]

The fevered fancies of a male mind... the Amazon is a popular image...

Although women have fought in many cultures, so maybe warrior women fighting alongside their menfolk would be more reasonable

[Mosaic]

Agreed Rowan - but it was a woman academic.....

[rowanwitch]

She may be of one of the radical feminist ones then... they seem to try to 'create' an heroic past for womankind when surviving the lives they had was heroism enough

[Mosaic]

...Much as Marija Gimbutas did for the 'white goddess' theory, but it was still patently unproven. I get very uneasy at all attempts to ake the past - especially the very distant past - fit into modern political theories.

[naomi24]

A male mind or a female mind isn’t the issue. Historians, archaeologists, theologians, etc., have pre-conceived notions of their subjects – and rarely consider the possibility that an explanation may be found in an area that is alien to their world view.

[emmie]

i thought it was quite balanced and a good example of how women can get shoved out of history, when there is evidence enough to explain their role in ancient society. Last nights covered a good deal of ground, Christianity and it's beginnings, but how woman were revered, i.e the Vestal Virgins. But if they fell off the pedestal so to speak the punishment was death. That part had me reaching for the off switch. I didn't, but one unlucky individual who supposedly took a lover, or maybe more, was taken down to the deepest vault possible, and left there to die. Such was the fate of these girls, women if they strayed. perhaps they needed to be sacrificed to the appease the Gods. Very interesting, and will do a catch up if possible.

[Mosaic]

Interesting Em - I will watch on i-player, but I'm intrigued that the killing of a vestal was presented as a sacrifice in the programme. Sacrifices to the gods were only of the best and most beautiful, and the Romans were opposed to human sacrifice per se.
Judicial killing did not bother them at all - so the slow painful death of a 'heretic' would fit the scenario you describe - not a sacrifice.

[naomi24]

There you are, em. I know what I'll be doing later today.

[emmie]

the Vestal Virgins were revered as no other, but many were killed, if they did not appear to be whiter than white. Not sure how else i can explain that.

Naomi i would appreciate your opinion. I did like it, and do think Ms Hughes a good overall presenter.

[naomi24]

OK, em. I'll watch it later and get back to you.

[NOX]

I missed it, not sure how, but will be catching up with it later:)

[emmie]

i would like to catch up with first part, not sure how, but perhaps see when they repeat it, as they seem to do. I am not religious in any way, but this captured my imagination.

[naomi24]

Part 1.

[emmie]

have to go out shortly, so will save for later. Thank you, that was kind.

[naomi24]

You're welcome. :o)

[Mosaic]

Hi Em, I watched the programme on iplayer so am in a better position to talk about its points. I thnk it held together much better than the first in the series.
Re. the VVirgins, I think the programme only cited one instance of a VV being done to death, and the reason cited sounded as much like a political fit-up as anything done from religious conviction. Publicly humiliating and giving an awful slow death to a member of a leading senatorial family would send out a powerful message to anyone plotting a coup.
I thought the discussion of women in early Christianity was very well done.