The Civilization of the Goddess: The World of Old Europe [Paperback]

Marija Gimbutas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994

Presenting a classic illumination of Neolithic goddess-centred culture, this text provides a picture of a complex world, offering evidence of the matriarchal roots of civilization.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Archeologist Gimbutas's portrait of a harmonious, pre-patriarchal goddess-worshiping civilization in Europe includes photographs, maps, charts and analysis of neolithic art and culture.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062508040
• ISBN-13: 978-0062508041
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A monumental work, February 15, 2001

By 

Erik Rodenborg "Kire" (Solna, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civilization of the Goddess: The World of Old Europe (Paperback)

For all those who are interested in a learned and well documented alternative view on the prehistory of Europe - the best you can do is to read this work! Gimbutas was one of the worlds leading archaeologists and even her opponents had to admit that virtually no one could match her encyclopaedic archaeological knowledge. Then she started to argue that there has been a prehistoric matrifocal culture in Europe where the Goddess were worshipped and suddenly she was quite mariginalized in the academic community. Of cource no on denied her outstanding archaelogical knowledge but she was suddenly not politically correct in this male dominated community. If you read this powerful book you realize why. This book presents the essence of Gimbutas life long research and her final conclusions.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars possibly the greatest archaeologist of the 20th century, February 10, 2008

By 

Brian Griffith (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civilization of the Goddess: The World of Old Europe (Paperback)

Gimbutas's lifetime of archaeological research comes together in this panoramic view of Old European civilization. And her work helps blow the frontiers of known history back by about 3,000 years, exposing cultures far older than Sumer or ancient Egypt. Her patient calibrations of dentochronology with radio-carbon dating of artifacts shows large villages and towns from the 6,000s BCE forward, dotted across Eastern Europe. And her compilation of cultural clues shows cultures which challenge all previous notions of how civilizations evolved. The basic equality in size of houses and graves, the emphasis on feminine images in art, the lack of defensive walls or caches of weapons, suggest civilizations focused on the arts of nurturing families, plants and animals. Perhaps the survival of the fittest here meant the flourishing of those best able to care for each other. In discoveries and open-minded interpretation of remains, Gimbutas could stand as the greatest archaeologist of the 20th century.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars we have invented nothing, August 20, 2001

By 

rob whiteside (South Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civilization of the Goddess: The World of Old Europe (Paperback)

If you read this book , and understand the implications ,of what it means, then all our preconceptions ,of prehistoric people are destroyed . As Piccasso said ,after visiting prehistoric cave paintings ,We have invented nothing . Have a look at the hair styles ,and sensuous clothing on the figurines ,look at the sensuous art work ,see that there are no weapons of war , come away troubled. Rob Whiteside