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Romantic Philosophies: The Ancient Roots and Modern Directions of the Romance PART 1 - Page 3

Page 3

Jan 1, 1998

The latter days of vital feminine deities saw the trivialization of such powerful figures as Aphrodite, the Roman Venus. As seen through male interpretation, she is a sex object, merely a focus for male gratification. However, in her purest form, Aphrodite could have been a patron goddess of Romance. She embodied such concepts as the integration of independence and vulnerability, the energizing force of intimacy, the powers of creativity, transformation, and love as a means for divine enlightenment.

In the ages following the fall of female-centric schools of thought, female deities were co-opted by males who reinterpreted them for their own ends. The Crone, whose name derives from the word for Crown, was stripped of her divine prestige and turned into a disrespected hag. Only sexy young Maidens or domestic, nurturing Mothers were acceptable in male-centric thought.

Concurrently, women were relegated the second citizen status, or not even treated as citizens at all, but rather as chattel. Their minds were ignored, their spirits battered, and their bodies objectified. Again, these conflicts are often fodder for Romance tales: the important difference being that love invariably overcomes them as doesn't necessarily happen in real life...

* * * * * * READ The Rest of this article, "Romantic Philosophies: The Ancient Roots and Modern Directions of the Romance," by Suzette L. Mako ~ next month here at Suite 101! Part of an ongoing series "In Defense of Romance." (c)1997,1998 by Suzette L. Mako. Presented at Suite 101 with author's permission. All rights reserved, may not be copied in whole or in part without author's express written consent.

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