A lively, enjoyable, and learned look at Greek goddesses.
Feature image credit: Pan Macmillan Australia
Most of us have some knowledge of ancient Greek myths. Heracles, Odysseus, Zeus, Poseidon: these names loom large in our shared cultural capital. Less well-known are some of the goddesses.
Writer and classicist Natalie Haynes seeks to redress this imbalance with Divine Might, her exploration of goddesses in Greek mythology. Each chapter looks at one particular goddess (or goddess group): The Muses, Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Demeter, Hestia, Athene, and The Furies. In exploring their stories, Haynes demonstrates clearly how the narratives around these myths changed and developed over the centuries (and continue to do so). These stories all came from the oral tradition, and so we find that once they were written down, some had their names changed, or aspects of their story were different, or even two or three figures are melded together to make one. It was ever thus, with oral storytelling.
In each chapter, the story of the goddess is examined through various writers, imagery in visual art, and even on occasion more contemporary renderings of the myth, such the films Xanadu and Mighty Aphrodite. Haynes uses a contemporary feminist gaze, yet maintains an understanding of the myths within their origin contexts. She writes with knowledge, understanding, and a great deal of humour. For example, in writing about Hestia:
“…numerous shrines to Vesta [Hestia] have been discovered in bakeries. Just when you thought you couldn’t like her more, this versatile goddess turns out to be the patron saint of carbs.”
Myth is the foundation of most of our contemporary storytelling. So a deep dive into any aspect of myth can only help us better understand the narratives that drive and shape us.
Divine Might is a fascinating and surprising look at some of the goddesses whose names we might know, but whose stories remain murky. It is a worthy addition to the library of any lover of the classics, but also any lover of stories.
And isn’t that all of us?
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: September 2023
RRP: $36.99
