Jan Sunday Filipino, b. 1988
45.72 x 63.5 cm
Further images
Egyptian Goddess Isis and Sumerian Goddess Innana Different civilizations. Same divine mother archetype.
How did we arrive at this age of institutionalised inequality?
Cultural stratification only came to be in the first thousand years BC. Before that, societies were mostly egalitarian and, not a surprise, spiritual.
Maybe it is true that when God (or spirit) is in the first place, everything else is where it should be.
The reverence to the female as herself, the life bringer, and, also a divine archetype was essential and central to prehistoric communities and civilizations.
In Malta, the oldest known goddess worshipping culture was found to exist and predates that of Egypt. The female figures were always found inside temples and male and phallic figures were found elsewhere but equally given respect and reverence. And this culture was said to be peaceful and prosperous for a long period.
However, this doesn’t say that woman is above male in class and power. It only illustrates the kind of society we only hope to be. Balanced.
In the present, women have fought and are still fighting to matter. To occupy space.
- Jan Sunday