Goddesses Women Are Often Conflicted

Goddesses

Women are often conflicted characters acting in controversial roles in ancient literature. In epic works like the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey, women are multi-dimensional human beings with complex motives and behaviors. Their seemingly malicious behaviors are usually attributable to genuine human emotions like jealousy or anger, whereas their kindness is equally as compelling and compassionate. Women in ancient literature are rarely one-dimensional figures, even if their roles in society are politically subordinate to men.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, women play mainly secondary or facilitating roles and are not as integral to plot development as they are in other ancient texts. Gilgamesh's mother Ninsun may be the most powerful female figure in the epic. Although she does not seem to play a major role in the story, her actions are symbolically meaningful and integral to character development. For example, Ninsun blesses Enkidu as her own son, thereby solidifying the brotherly love between Gilgamesh and his male friend. Ninsun, who is also a goddess, intervenes on her son's behalf much like Athena does in Homer's Odyssey.

Therefore, women are often mother figures in ancient literature. Ninsun and Athena are not sexual characters; they are more like leaders who look out for and protect the men in their lives. The goddesses Ninsun and Athena use their powers to intervene on behalf of Gilgamesh and Odysseus. They are also intermediaries between the heavenly and earthly realms. Athena, for example, can take on the guise of a human male when she transforms herself into Telemachus. Likewise, Ninsun seems to dwell on Earth even though she is a full goddess. Penelope is also mainly a mother figure in the Odyssey, although as Odysseus' wife she is also shown to be a domestic partner and one who the hero loves enough to leave exotic women on tropical islands.

Women in ancient literature are also depicted as human beings with real physical needs. Their sexual desire is as strong as their male counterparts, revealing much about the way women were viewed in ancient society. Women were not shown as chaste, innocent, or virginal. Prostitutes and single women both play major roles in the Epic of Gilgamesh and in the Odyssey. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, a prostitute transforms Enkidu completely with her sexual prowess. The power of female sexuality is explored in Homer's Odyssey too. The war hero meets and lives with several women on his way home to Penelope. Odysseus seems uniquely able to seduce women and many fall deeply in love with him: especially Calypso and Circe. Calypso and Circe are independent, unmarried women with strong sex drives.