Paging Female Gods Throughout history, societies have often associated divine powers with the male gender. Gods such as Zeus, Odin, and Ra have dominated religious narratives and mythologies, leaving female deities in the background. However, it is crucial to acknowledge and appreciate the significant contributions of female gods across cultures. In ancient Greek mythology, goddesses like Athena, Aphrodite, and Artemis played instrumental roles in shaping their respective domains. Athena, known as the goddess of wisdom, guided heroes and imparted strategic skills on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, inspired passion and desire in mortals and gods alike.
EDIT: And if you're looking for modern fiction, the Percy Jackson series has goddesses consorting with mortal men
The Greek Pantheon was ruled by a council of twelve great gods known as the Olympians, namely Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athene, Hephaistos, Ares, Aphrodite, Apollon, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysos, and sometimes Hestia. You loved the stallion, famed in battle, yet you ordained for him the whip, the goad, and the lash, ordained for him to gallop for seven and seven hours, ordained for him drinking from muddled waters, you ordained far his mother Silili to wail continually.
Meanwhile, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, inspired passion and desire in mortals and gods alike. Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, protected the natural world and represented feminine strength. In Hinduism, Goddess Durga symbolizes feminine power and protection.
Paging femsle gods
Do you see this look? This is what the Chinese players and Chinese Company Tencent asked for, oddly enough the Chinese Gods are being redesigned as asked by their player base.
Looks even more like Aphrodite now.
I am sorry, I fail to see your point here. Am I supposed to, for some reason, want the same design as Tencent?
I mean, what you describe certainly goes hand to hand with this phenomenon. Do you really consider this something positive that you wish to encourage? Especially when it means removing Asian eyes from character design, even though (in my personal opinion) they look incredibly good?
We are definitely not on the same page here.
What's wrong with over sexualized female gods?
Let me give you two reasons:
- First, it leads to very uniform, boring, bland designs. What is the point of having tons of different characters, if they are all small variations on the same design idea? What about variety? That is the reason we have very different body builds among male character, by the way.
- Then, and that one is straight in front of your eyes but you cannot see it, It perpetuates some bad stereotypes and false ideas. For instance, the idea that “female gods […] have always been symbols of sexuality, fertility and the like.”. That is false, and have… unfortunate implications too. Let me give two examples from the game rooster. Unlike what the guy from that stupid video, full of this false stereotype, believes without even having taken the time to check out, Kali is not associated with sex. She is associated with violence, death and motherly love, though. Not much fertility there. It should be obvious from every piece of art featuring her that she is always depicted as fearsome, monstrous, frightening, not attractive. But so strong is his prejudice than he presents the evidences without actually seeing them… The other obvious example is Nemesis. In case you are not aware, “I am your Nemesis” does not exactly mean “I love you and want to have tons of children with you”. Nemesis is a goddess of vengeance and retribution. Her whole craft is of destruction. How in hell do you associate that with “sexuality, fertility and the like” is a complete mystery to me.
Soladrin wrote:
Besides, I don't hear you complaining about how all men in videogames are buff stereotypical machomen.
That is because it is not true. Some are, but it is far, far from all of them.
Let us take the most famous video game character ever, for instance: Mario. Despite his mustache, he is not much of a macho man, with his big belly…
Do you want a list of LoL characters that are not macho men, for instance?
And that is not even mentioning the obvious. The obvious being that most characters in video games are going to be fighter, therefore it makes sense for them to be pretty muscled and though. Being fighters does NOT make them more likely to be sexualized, though.
"Our fantasy settings are grim and dark, but that is not a reflection of who we are or how we feel the real world should be. [. ] We will continue to diversify the cast of characters we portray [. ] so everyone can find representation and heroes they can relate to. [. ] If [you don't feel the same way], you will not be missed"
https://twitter.com/WarComTeam/status/1268665798467432449/photo/1
Secret Force Behind the Rise of the Tau
THE SEVENTH class consisted of the fabulous MONSTERS, BEASTS, GIANTS of myth. They were semi-divine creatures, closely related to the gods.E.g.GIGANTES (Giants), DRAKONES (Dragons), Kentauroi (Centaurs), Kerberos (Cerberus), Sphinx, Sirens, etc.
She is depicted riding a lion and wielding various weapons, signifying her ability to fight against evil. Similarly, Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and arts, embodies wisdom and creativity. Egyptian mythology also recognizes the power of female gods. Isis, the goddess of magic and healing, possessed great intelligence and used her abilities to help others. Maat, the goddess of truth, justice, and harmony, maintained cosmic balance and guided the moral compass of societies. In traditional African religions, goddesses like Oshun, Yemaya, and Oya hold a special place. Oshun, the goddess of love and fertility, brings joy and prosperity to those who worship her. Yemaya, the goddess of the ocean, represents nurturing and motherhood. Oya, the goddess of wind, lightning, and storms, is associated with transformation and change. Paging female gods means acknowledging their stories, powers, and contributions to the divine realm. It means giving them rightful recognition and representation in religious and cultural narratives. By doing so, we can promote gender equality, empower women, and celebrate the multifaceted aspects of femininity. In conclusion, female gods play crucial roles in various mythologies and religions worldwide. From guiding warriors to symbolizing wisdom and nurturing, they embody power, strength, and compassion. It is essential to recognize, honor, and appreciate the rich diversity of female deities across cultures. By paging female gods, we can embrace gender equality, foster inclusivity, and deepen our understanding of the divine feminine..
Reviews for "The Allure of Goddesses: The Intriguing Charms of Female Deities"
1. John - 1 star:
I found "Paging Female Gods" to be extremely disappointing. The writing was subpar, with flat characters and a predictable plot. The author's attempt at addressing gender issues felt superficial and forced, lacking depth and nuance. The pacing was also off, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and would not recommend this book.
2. Sarah - 2 stars:
I had high hopes for "Paging Female Gods," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story had potential, but it fell short in its execution. The dialogue felt unnatural and stilted, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the author's attempts at tackling feminist themes came across as heavy-handed and didactic. The book lacked subtlety and failed to explore the complexities of the issues it attempted to address. While it was a quick read, I ultimately felt let down by the shallow storytelling and lackluster character development.