New Books in Intellectual History

Sarah Clegg, "Women's Lore: 4,000 Years of Sirens, Serpents and Succubi" (Apollo, 2023)

Sep 2, 2023

Sarah Clegg discusses Women's Lore, tracing the evolution of mythical beings like Lamias and mermaids. They explore the cultural significance of these creatures and how their mythology shifted from childbirth rituals to the seduction of men. The podcast also delves into the power of stories and incantations in protecting children, the transformation of the legend of Lilith, and the resurgence of women's rights during the Victorian era.

48:26

Episode guests

Sarah Clegg

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Monstrous demons like Lamashtu and Gello were originally part of women's rituals surrounding childbirth and pregnancy, highlighting the shift in their mythology from empowering figures to temptresses of men.

The portrayal of mermaids as deceitful and manipulating creatures in Victorian art and literature aligned with societal fears and anxieties surrounding women's rights and challenged gender roles.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Lamash-tu and the Power it Gave Women

Lamash-tu, an ancient Mesopotamian monster of childbirth and infant death, provided women with a measure of control and comfort in the face of extreme danger and mortality during pregnancy and childbirth. Through the use of amulets, spells, and incantations, women felt empowered and believed they could protect themselves and their infants from Lamash-tu's harm. This connection between women's fears and the presence of Lamash-tu can be traced back to ancient times, and the significance and representation of this monster extended throughout various societies and cultures over thousands of years.

Introduction

2min

The Evolution of Lamias and Mermaids

20min

Charm Stories: A Tale of Siblings, Monsters, and Promises

4min

The Power of Stories and Incantations in Childbirth

5min

The Evolution of the Legend of Lilith

12min

The Victorian Era and the Resurgence of Women's Rights

4min

Creatures like Lilith, the seductive first wife of Adam, and mermaids, who lured sailors to their death, are familiar figures in the genre of monstrous temptresses who use their charms to entice men to their doom.

But if we go back 4,000 years, the roots of these demons lie in horrific creatures like Lamashtu, a lion-headed Mesopotamian demon who strangled infants and murdered pregnant women, and Gello, a virgin ghost of ancient Greece who killed expectant mothers and babies out of jealousy. Far from enticing men into danger and destruction, these monsters were part of women's ritual practices surrounding childbirth and pregnancy. So how did their mythology evolve into one focused on the seduction of men?

In Women's Lore: 4,000 Years of Sirens, Serpents, and Succubi (Apollo, 2023) Dr. Sarah Clegg takes us on an absorbing and witty journey from ancient Mesopotamia to the present day, encountering a multitude of serpentine succubi, a child-eating wolf-monster of ancient Greece, the Queen of Sheba and a host of vampires. Dr. Clegg shows how these demons were appropriated by male-centred societies, before they were eventually recast as symbols of women's liberation, offering new insights into attitudes towards womanhood, sexuality and women's rights.

This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose doctoral work focused on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.

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