Question

Based on your reading of Baring's and Cashford's description of "the great goddess" in Minoan Crete, how does their belief that there was a prehistoric great mother goddess function in some of the ways that modern theorists have used to describe the meaning of myth?

Answer 1

Baring's and Cashford's belief in a prehistoric great mother goddess reflects the use of myth as an explanatory and cohesive force in ancient cultures, including Minoan Crete. Myths served to interpret natural forces, societal roles, and defined concepts such as justice within the mythopoetic Greek culture. The interpretation of artifacts like the Snake Goddess is complex but underscores the essential nature of myth in ancient narratives.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Baring's and Cashford's description, the notion of a prehistoric great mother goddess is utilized to explain the role of myth in ancient societies, particularly in Minoan Crete culture. The existence of figures such as the Snake Goddess and the emphasis on fertility and death in ancient religious belief systems underscore the importance of the divine feminine. This aligns with the idea that myths functioned as explanatory and cohesive forces within ancient cultures, providing a narrative framework for understanding environmental forces, human characteristics, and societal roles.

These analyses provide insight into the mythopoetic nature of Greek culture, where myths and deities like Athena played a central role in defining concepts of wisdom and justice. The synthesis of different cultural deities into a single pantheon in Greek mythology reflects the amalgamation of indigenous and Aryan belief systems, indicating the dynamic interplay between different cultures and the evolution of mythological narratives.