The Once and Future Goddess: A Sweeping Visual Chronicle of the Sacred Female and Her Reemergence in the Cult [Paperback]

Elinor Gadon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 1989

A richly illustrated testament to the reemergence of the Goddess in the art and in the lives of contemporary women and men.

In this beautifully illustrated and far-reaching history. Elinor Gadon vividly weaves words and images to demonstrate the powerful connections between ancient and contemporary art, between the Goddess of the Ice Age and the Goddess of today.

This panoramic view of Goddess imagery extends from the prehistoric Goddess representations of Catal Huyuk, Malta, Avebury, and Crete, tot he more patriarchal images of the Sumerians, Greeks, and Christians, to the wide range of contemporary artists inspired by the Goddess, including Frida Kahlo, Mayumi Oda, and Judy Chicago.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Having demanded that spirituality be reexamined in terms of women's own spiritual needs, the women's movement has brought a resurgence of prepatriarchal spirituality centering on the goddess--whatever her name. Along with this resurgence comes the need to reexamine artistic and anthropological assumptions. Using art and artifacts, Gadon traces the history of goddess worship from Paleolithic times to the present day. The most moving and effective chapters are on women's art of the late 20th century. A compelling and challenging book suitable for both public and academic libraries.
- Gail Wood, Montgomery Coll. Lib., Germantown, Md.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A treat for the mind and eye, a very important contribution to our understanding of the key role of women and feminine images in prehistoricand now also modernart and life." -- Raine Eisler, author of The Chalice and the Blade

"An important, scholarly contribution to the study of religion and the history of women. I celebrate the publication." -- -- Susan Griffin, author of Women & Nature and Pornography & Science

"Important and delightfully readable...Points the way to the reassessment and reconstitution of the bases of human relations. A seminally fascinating book." -- Ashley Montagu

"An important, scholarly contribution to the study of religion and the history of women. I celebrate the publication." -- Susan Griffin, author of Women & Nature and Pornography & Science

"Does the Goddess have a place not only in our past but in our future? In this venturesome and persuasively argued book, Elinor Gadon answers this question with a ringing affirmative...This is a volatile and controversial book that will evoke widespread criticism and acclaim. I commend it to readers, not only specialist, but anyone who is interested in the health and well-being of our psyches and of our planet." -- Harvey Cox, Thomas Professor of Divinity, The Divinity School, Harvard University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (November 29, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062503545
• ISBN-13: 978-0062503541
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic for women/men wanting to reconnect spirit with bod, November 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Once and Future Goddess: A Sweeping Visual Chronicle of the Sacred Female and Her Reemergence in the Cult (Paperback)

Beautiful history of goddess worship as it existed throughout prehistoric times, focused mostly on european. After describing artifacts and architecture in context, Gadon then shows how artistic and spriritual worship continues today in the same fashion. Chapter on the great earth goddess figures (mounds and excavations) is moving and materiel was entirely new to me. Profoundly touches on the issue of woman's body as goddess -- to simply take it for given, for over 400 pages, was enough to move me to another level of acceptance.

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary and deeply spiritual, January 21, 2003

By 

Hermitess (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Once and Future Goddess: A Sweeping Visual Chronicle of the Sacred Female and Her Reemergence in the Cult (Paperback)

Packed with beautiful images revering and honoring the bodies and spirits of women as deities... a powerful, timely and necessary resource for women seeking to reclaim their own divinity in a world built around the assumption of women as the "root of all evil" and other assorted nonsense!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Once and Future Goddess" by Elinor Gadon, October 9, 2007

By 

Julie Harvey (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Once and Future Goddess: A Sweeping Visual Chronicle of the Sacred Female and Her Reemergence in the Cult (Paperback)

"The Once and Future Goddess" by Elinor Gadon is one of the most fascinating books on the goddess written. It is not only one of the best references, but one on the best art history books available. It is different from other goddess texts as it uses many historical artworks for reference. "The Once and Future Goddess" is set up similar to a college art history course as it starts with Paleolithic cave art and one of the oldest sculptures known, the "Venus of Willendorf." It continues to take the reader on journey through time as it examines goddess art from old Europe, Malea, and Minoan Crete. It explains the ancient Far East, the male warlike uprisings, the birth of Christ until it reaches the current religions of today.

I myself am an artist and am familiar with many of the artworks documented in this book as I have learned them in other art history courses. None of the courses focused solely on explaining the images of the goddess. Learning how these images related to the feminine was fascinating. I was especially captivated when I reached the chapter on Christianity and learned how the book of Genesis is set up to slander goddess worship and its symbols such as the fruit, snake, tree of life, and most importantly, procreation. It is truly an eye opening book.

"The Once and Future Goddess" is an intriguing read and many would benefit from what Elinor Gadon has documented. It is thoroughly researched and organized and would be the perfect book of reference for an art history course or goddess study.

Reviewed by Julie Harvey