Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship
Here, there is a thread for us to post on the status of Women and Gender in ANE scholarship. I will start posts based on the first article by Professor Julia M. Asher-Greve exactly on this topic published by Styx Publications, the posh ANE publishers from the Netherlands, in NIN - Journal of Gender Studies in Antiquty, Volume 1, 2000. The first issue, by the way, is totally on Inanna
There is another gem by Professor Asher-Greve in Gateways. The article on the Mesopotamian view of the body. Donīt miss it!
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship
Historically, (no pun intended) I have not been very balanced in my studies, preferring to search for verifiable facts rather than subjective matter.
I am pleased to say that The Alphabet Versus the Goddess : The Conflict Between Word and Image by Leonard Shlain
has a lot of both, boldly suggesting that patriarchial societies succeed at the expense of their relationship with female and the Goddess.
Wow, you figured that out all by yourself, you say?
It's not necessarily a conscious conspiracy but deeply linked to our brains and type of information we value and disseminate. (Like writing as opposed to images)
He backs his assertions with compelling evidence and many historical references and inferences that are not immediately obvious, and so refreshing.
This is probably de rigeur for you feminists out there
but I'm trying real hard to be a good man...
Re: Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship
Sorry for not replying to your post, Marcus, but I honestly have been so busy that... I did not see it.
I guess in Mesopotamia from the written records goddesses were marginalized early , and the Gilgamesh Epic is a clear example (one of the many, Iīm afraid) of how early this was...
Now, the situation is not that horrible though, because goddesses held power, as a reminiscence that civiliztion and the arts of being a well-bred and law-abiding citizen started in the home??? Most certainly!
See the ever-mentioned/quoted and most excellent Frymer-Kensky for more details
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship
No worries, Lishtar, I know you have been busy...
I am the student here, and the student must wait for the master.
I finally got the Frymer-Kensky book on order from Amazon.com, and can't wait to get it!
Amazon... hmmm, somehow the irony enthuses me
Also, regarding your post(s) to Dubsar:
I too would like to see more posted on the ancient Mesopotamia cultic year as it becomes available.
If I find anything in my occasional fits of maniacal research, I'll certainly share the wealth... But certain people here are probably better suited for analysis and discussion than I.
Ok, back to coding I go... I've been slacking too long on the cuneiform program.
Re: Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship
There is an excellent book on te Cultic Calendar written by Mark Cohen. I thought that perhaps we could choose one of the calendars he mentioned, say the Cultic Calendar of the Third Dynasty of Ur, and follow it as a group next year.
We can also take advantage of the map of Nippur so graciously given by Dubsar. People, we have the scholar of Nippur here in the board with us! Thus, perhaps we could explore the sacred capital with a Virtual Cultic Journey too... as our work proceeds. Reconstructed, but from the heart...
These are some great ideas for us to work as a group and active Mesopotamian community as well!!!
We can share references with those who donīt have libraries around and ... get going!
So, Gateways2Bab board, pleeeeeeeease keep posting your wishes and desires and questions what everything that gets you inspired ... I guess we will all make an effort and space and time to get things done and find some answers as far as we can.
At least I hope!
Marcus, great you got Frymer-Kensky... and eager to hear your opinion on this most excellent book as well!
and last but not least... I AM NO MASTER!!! Or Mistress...
best,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship
I got all excited thinking about a 'Virtual Cultic Journey'... visions of of Babylon in joyous celebration swam through my mind, and I actually had to catch my breath it was so vividly real... The sun was high, and the streets were full of people. I could see the blue and gold bricks and the dragon at the Ishtar gate!
From that, I think it must have been Neo-Assyrian period, but it was beautiful!
The group participation of the calendar of Ur sounds interesting... would love to hear more discussion on this.
Though I've been doing a lot of reading lately, I am dying to DO/experience/actualize/participate in great works...
G2B is a Great Work. Frank, you are awesome!
Ok, Lishtar, if you don't want the title... I won't push it.
I've never been a follower, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize leaders when I see them. You have my respect and admiration, such as befitting a wise woman... so there. :P
Re: Women, Gender and Ancient Near Eastern Scholarship The post on the Journey through Nippurīs temples is Dubsarīs but you are so right: Dubsar and Frank are our real ANE scholars. They keep us grounded with their bright minds and great questions and dedication
And we, cheerful mystics, give them the spice...
Ainīt we great???? Yeahhhh! And I am so grateful for Dubsarīs and Frankīs companionship and sci-correctedness!!! And for the rest of the board, who are also dedicated and highly magickal!!!
And pleeeeease, Marcus, I am no mistress. Have just a bit more time on the Path than yourself.
Have a great taste for books though
And it is a pleasure I guess we all share in this board!!!
best,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Empowerment, inner authority vs outer authority, leadership
Post here your ideas on these four important issues. I chose to include the topic in the Women in the Ancient Near East thread because I find the Goddesses of Mesopotamia very empowering Themselves.
This is a thread in process... of becoming whathever it feels like transforming into!
Best,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: Empowerment, inner authority vs outer authority, leaders
Empowerment can be defined as the inner potent encouragement that sustains our major decisions to trigger action in all levels of our lives, as well as the giving of power which will help others to take effective actions in all spheres of their lives. Empowerment is also a two-way process, for when we have been personally empowered, then we are able to empower others.
Leadership, on the other hand, broadly speaking, is the capability through which someone in power helps us to define our purposes better, i.e. is the capability a person has to empower others through unspoken examples (inner authority) and outer commands (outer authority). whereas authority is the inner and outer ability to act based on solid knowledge and knowing of the stages involved in any process, as well as the ability to convince and motivate others through example.
The striking aspect of empowerment, leadership and authority is that these are qualities which one can develop and grow into. One may not be born with the three of them, but learn to develop the basic traits of each of them as one lives to the fulles. What I am saying is that fundamentally empowerment, leadership and authority are not necessarily traits that we inherit by birth alone or by strenous training into. No particular personality trait-like being an extrovert or introvert-makes or breaks a leader, an empowerer, a person in power. No level of IQ or intuitive ability determines whether one can become the tree of them. It is also clear from countless studies that good managers of people or things do not necessarily become good leaders or authorities in their fields. In my view, being a leader or an empowerer is not about acting out a role, but rather about accessing the power to maximize one's unique and individual capacities and potentials. To have the authority to lead and motivate is not primarily about doing something, but rather about being something. The development of such traits are about becoming conscious of both the power within oneself and the power inherent within the position one holds. It is this combination which will inspire and motivate other to emulate our behaviour.
In a fundamental sense, the challenge of being a leader and empowerer is about integrating personal power with one's positional power. Knowledge, Knowing and Service both to the Everlasting Spirit and to the Community we belong to.
In the Mysteries, we normally say I want to know so that I may serve
This was my kickstart.
best,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
From Inwardness/Inner Life to Inner Authority
Inwardness is the capability one develops to listen to, learn from and grow into oneīs inner life. It is normally a process that cannot be forced, but that can be learnt by following any framework, such as the Kabbalah, the Runes, the I-Ching, or following the way of devotion to the Everlasting Spirit, in the case of the talented mystics, such as Manna here in the board. I guess a way of explaining inwardness or the process of developing trust in oneīs inner life t would be... the technique of metaphysics through the careful understanding of metaphors and symbolic imagery within the tradition of oneīs choice.
I mentioned the term Tradition. It is the background of a tradition that confers authority and enhances the experience of the Divine into oneself. "I want to know so that I may serve" is a standard pre-condition to trail the path of the Mysteries. Thus, if you take Mesopotamia, for example, it is the desire to get to know the Spirit of Everlasting Mesopotamia which will trigger the Experience of Mesopotamia in oneself. One of the reasons why it is impossible to accept that Enki is an extra-terrestrial god... or have you ever heard of aliens inthe Ubaid Period or in the Epics written up during the Third Dynasty of Ur?
Insight comes through dedication to the study of the tradition, through hunches that make a hell of sense , with the strength of transformation that will lead to Spiritual and Inner Authority. Or the power of the experience, that is recreated within and without ourselves.
Any magickal training will focus firstly on the clearing of the ground of oneīs inner images so that the transforming power and beauty of the real archetypes of the tradition can manifest. Without knowledge, knowing will be complicated and both confusing and confused. With knowledge, knowing will acquire a new and deeper dimension. Without knowing, knowledge will not have a soul. Or inner authority from deep insight.
Some thoughts for Saturday night.
best,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
Re: From Inwardness/Inner Life to Inner Authority
The Voice of Science or Jungian Psychology:
"The object of therapy, in the Jungian sense, is to reconcile the individual to whatever authority he carries within himself. Such an authority is inescapable; the wise man adapts himself to it. Indeed, in therapy one seeks just that authority which experience, now set in a confusedly anti-authoritarian frame, has hidden from the individual, sick to that degree in which he cannot find the authority directing his inner life."
This characterization of Jung's approach to therapy is accurate and well put.
Inner authority is also one of the major goals of Magickal Training, and in what follows, we will elaborate a bit on it. The difference is that in Magickal Training, one is not ill and the personality traits have to be balanced so that the student is accepted by any reliable teacher/companion or magickal school of sound reputation.
One cannot be spiritual if one messes up with oneīs emotional and physical life.
But if the emotional and material are balanced, the genuine Desire to Know will trigger the Process. And the Knowing will manifest with the backing and fulgor of the tradition and will sound ... timeless and everlasting... as all genuine teachings were, are and will ever be.
best wishes,
Lishtar
From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
, and the Gilgamesh Epic is a clear example (one of the many, Iīm afraid) of how early this was...
, with the strength of transformation that will lead to Spiritual and Inner Authority. Or the power of the experience, that is recreated within and without ourselves. 
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