In this engaging conversation, Mistress Audrey Lu Black and Dr. Hillary Williamson Perez delve into the rich tapestry of Mesopotamian mythology, exploring the roles of goddesses, the complexities of relationships in ancient narratives, and the intersections of power, sexuality, and creativity. They discuss the significance of figures like Inanna, Ereshkigal, and Gilgamesh, while also highlighting the contributions of Hidwana, the first known poet, and the cultural implications of their stories in the context of gender and power dynamics.
Content warning: Rape, Sex addiction, sex abuse, incest, physical assault and child marriage.
Dr. Hillary J Williamson Perez is a Doctor of Philosophy in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology, MA/PhD.
Dissertation title is “Union & the Underworld: the Presence and Development of Female Agency in the Marriages of Inanna, Ereshkigal, and Persephone.”
P4P Bibliography
Black, Jeremy A., et al (2004). The literature of ancient Sumer. 1. publ. Oxford University Press.
Enheduanna, and Betty De Shong Meador (2000). Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna. (1st ed.). University of Texas Press.
Harris, R. (2000). Gender and aging in Mesopotamia: The Gilgamesh epic and other ancient literature. University of Oklahoma Press.
Leick, D.G. (1994). Sex and Eroticism in Mesopotamian Literature (1st ed.). Routledge.
Meador, Betty De Shong (2001) Inanna, Lady of the Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess. University of Texas Press.
Mitchell, Stephen (2004). Gilgamesh: A New English Version. Free Press.
Wolkstein, Diane, and Samuel Noah Kramer (1983). Inanna Queen of Heaven and Earth. Harper & Row.
Additional Book Resources:
Joseph Campbell’s the Hero’s Journey, Homer’s The Odyssey by Emily O. Wilson, and Intimate Lives of the Ancient Greeks by Stephanie Lynn Budin.
Credits: Producers Maypop and Siren; Sound Editor Primrose; Music Creators Nick Ruiz and Dawson Kroeger
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