34 Circe Salon -- Make Matriarchy Great Again -- Disrupting History

A fascinating exploration of the wonderful ancient sagas of the peoples of the Black Sea region and the powerful women that their stories extol. Join us as we talk with John Colarusso, linguistic professor and translator of the Nart Sagas. The "Nart Sagas" are a collection of heroic tales from the Caucasus which are notable for their stories of warrior women and mystical matriarchs.  In the Classical World, Caucasia was known as the land of the fearsome female fighters whose name would pass into history as "Amazons."  The history of these people, their languages, their stories and their powerful women will amaze.Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.

Conditions that affect hundreds of thousands of women, and yet they are misdiagnosed, mistreated and misunderstood.  Hear first hand accounts of our guests' journeys with these conditions. 

Join Vicki Noble as she chats with us about the legacy of her friend, Marija Gimbutas, a woman whose theories on the role of women in the neolithic period and in the creation of civilization are starting to be confirmed by modern DNA and archaeological research.  Marija would've been 100 years old this year.Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they chat with Vicki Noble about the scope of Gimbutas' scholarship in the worlds of archaeology, history and mythology, how she revolutionized the view of women in the Ancient World and why her work is under attack in academia today. 

Just a quick pause to let you know about some updates and upcoming events this weekend.  We have a new account for donations for the podcast.  If you like what you've been hearing, please support the cause.  https://www.patreon.com/34Circe  Thanks! Also, Vicki Noble tells us about some events that she thinks you all might find interesting.  Check out the listings here as well:https://womenandmyth.org/https://www.opusarchives.org/More fun things coming!

A new series exploring the often overlooked, elided or trivialized misogyny of the founders of Western patriarchy.  In the first episode, we set the tone for future discussion by introducing Aristotle's writings on women.  Let's just say... he wasn't a feminist.Aristotle was, in many ways, the father of Western science and logic.  He shaped the approach to serious inquiry of our world and its workings from the time of Ancient Greece and Rome, to Early Christendom, Islam and Medieval Judaism, through The Enlightenment and all the way to our modern world.  The echo of his ideas can still be heard loudly today.  His analyses of the subjects from politics to poetry are the base of many of our contemporary constructions of those issues.So too his views on women.  Some will say that we've done away with his shameful and offensive views in our modern culture, but it's clear that, like a plague, his disdain and degradation of women still infect us.  We'll share some of those views as well as discuss the world that shaped him.Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they launch this bold new series.

Max Dashu, a noted scholar of women in history, discusses Helen of Troy and women in the Bronze Age. Topics include the presence of matriarchy in phallo-centric cultures, women's expression of power during the Trojan War, and the significance of Cassandra and Antigone. The podcast also explores the complex narratives surrounding Helen and the background of the Mycenaeans. Other topics include the mythic conquest of Thetus, conflicting heirs in Greek mythology, the tragic story of Cassandra, Greek paintings depicting the male gaze, and the treatment of Spartan women.

Mistress of the Cosmos, Ruler of the House of Light-- This episode, we celebrate the mighty goddess Isis! Join us as we talk with our guest Nancy about the inspiration she draws from this great ancient deity. Isis was revered throughout the ancient world, but what does she have to say for modern people-- Women in particular? Nancy, a Moslem woman of Egyptian origin, talks to us about how Isis' relevance and importance to her in all aspects of her life.Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.

Found primarily in Ireland and the British Isles, the Sheela na gig has been a mysterious symbol of female power for a millennia.  These 12th- to 17th-century stone carvings of supernatural females displaying their vulvas have been found in both sacred and secular architecture, from medieval churches to castles, town walls, holy wells, and gravestones.  What do they represent and how do they connect to women today? Join our guest, Starr Goode, a noted writer and teacher as well as a scholar of matriarchal history as she tells us about her lifelong study of these sacred female symbols. Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host. 

The 34 Circe Salon has been taken over by Broads You Should Know!  Our latest episode is a crossover from the "Broads You Should Know" podcast:https://broadsyoushouldknow.com/Join the Broads You Should Know team as they discuss the life of Julie D'Aubigny, a woman who lived boldly at the turn of the 18th Century in France.  She was a professional opera singer, a fearless swordswoman and an audacious lover of women and men.  Listen in to learn more!

A further exploration of the cultural taboos around the lives of women, in this episode we discuss periods. Dawn "Sam" Alden hosts.