Goddesses of the World: From Prehistory to Modern Cultures and Religions

For much of recorded history, male gods have been regarded as more important or more powerful than their female counterparts. However, archaeological, prehistoric, and early historical evidence indicates that goddesses were once widely venerated as supreme deities, and in some modern cultures this reverence persists today. While goddesses are well-known parts of Greek and Egyptian mythology, female divine figures also appear in the Abrahamic religions, despite their predominately male-centered ideological structures. This book examines the extensive traditions of legend, mythology, folklore, and religious worship related to goddesses across various regions and cultures, from ancient history to the present day. Organized by geography and cultural association, it diverges from conventional studies of religion and mythology by focusing solely on female divinity. The work addresses the gender imbalances in sacred narratives by bringing the role of goddesses to the foreground in both historical and contemporary contexts.