Greek religion is filled with strange sexual artifacts –– stories of mortal women's couplings with gods; rituals like the basilinna's "marriage" to Dionysus; beliefs in the impregnating power of snakes and deities; the unusual birth stories of Pythagoras, Plato, and Alexander; and more. In this provocative study, Marguerite Rigoglioso suggests such details are remnants of an early Greek cult of divine birth, not unlike that of Egypt. Scouring myth, legend, and history from a female-oriented perspective, she argues that many in the highest echelons of Greek civilization believed non-ordinary conception was the only means possible of bringing forth individuals who could serve as true leaders, and that special cadres of virgin priestesses were dedicated to this practice. Her book adds a unique perspective to our understanding of antiquity, and has significant implications for the study of Christianity and other religions in which divine birth claims are central. The book's stunning insights provide fascinating reading for those interested in female-inclusive approaches to ancient religion.
The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece by Marguerite Rigoglioso
(Palgrave Macmillan)    Pub. Date: April 27, 2009.t.
“With this pioneering work, Marguerite Rigoglioso has illuminated the coherence and the centrality of the seemingly disparate references to divine parthenogenetic birth in Greek religion. Her insightful study of the priestesshoods of divine birth brings the subject into focus and suggests new scholarly perspectives.”
–– Charlene Spretnak,
author of Lost Goddesses of Early Greece
“The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece
is bold, creative, and courageous, and makes
a considerable contribution to feminist re-readings and reinterpretations of religious
and mythological traditions from the Greco-Roman world. Especially convincing is the close reading of a large collection of mythological texts that illustrate the subtle and not-so-subtle movements from a more matriarchal to a more patriarchal ethos.”
–– Marvin Meyer, Ph.D., Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies, Chapman University;
author of The Gospel of Judas, The Gospels of Mary,
The Gnostic Bible, Ancient Christian Magic, and other volumes
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