Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Strain, Christopher

Abstract

This thesis examines the development of a goddess in the ancient Mediterranean. Popularly worshipped since at least the Paleolithic era, this goddess served as the cultural forbear of various goddesses throughout the region. The dominant religious culture of both the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras was emphatically matriarchal and contemporaneous societies mirrored this religious attitude with matrilineal customs. Over the course of many millennia, the goddess' identity and roles developed in different ways across the Mediterranean region. When Augustus came to power in Rome in the first century B.C.E., he adopted the tradition of his family and professed descent from Venus to lend divine credence to his claim to power. With the help of the poet Vergil, Augustus manipulated the character of Venus to embody and reinforce female roles desired in his burgeoning empire.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

56 p.

Identifier

FA00013639

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