Felines and Female Divinities
The Association of Cats with Goddesses, Ancient and Contemporary
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20192875 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alleyn Diesel (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2009-11-12 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal for the Study of Religion (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1011-7601 • E-ISSN: 2413-3027 |
| Publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa (PUBLISHER • ZA) |
| DOI | 10.4314/jsr.v21i1.47781 |
| OpenAlex | W2013214296 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
From Neolithic sites in Anatolia, to Sumer, Crete, Egypt, Greece and India,cats, great and small, have been associated with female figures and divinities. Their power, intelligent self-awareness, and mysterious shape-shifting characteristics have exerted a profound influence on humankind. But, why divine females, in particular, should have become so closely associated with felines is a question that has not been given sufficient attention. It appears that the concept of virginity holds the key: only powerful, autonomous goddesses, free of male control, were linked with felines. The characteristics of these divine females echo those of cats: independence, strength, selfreliance, elegance, and a willingness to allow themselves to be tamed strictly on their own terms. This ancient respect for felines and their especial link with women, not only is a reminder that “spirit” pervades the entire natural world, that there is a seamless link between human and non-human, but that these ancient goddesses can inspire all women to re-claim that proud assertiveness and courage epitomized by these regal creatures.Tyger, Tyger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeDare frame thy fearful symmetry?(William Blake)
Aesthetics · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Courage · Creatures · Elegance · Sociology · Theology · Virginity test · Gender Studies · History · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Philosophy
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,33 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |