Did ancient pagan goddesses actually survive in Christian Europe?
In short: Historian Ronald Hutton examines the mysterious female figures of the European imagination—from Mother Nature to the Gaelic Cailleach—to investigate whether they are remnants of ancient deities or something entirely new.
In this lecture, Ronald Hutton explores the origins of goddess-like figures such as the British fairy queen, the nocturnal Herodias, and the Cailleph. While these characters are often framed as surviving pre-Christian deities, Hutton argues they do not descend from the ancient pagan world, nor are they strictly Christian.
The video reveals that the popular narrative of 'pagan survival' was largely a construction of nineteenth-century scholars. By analyzing anthropology, archaeology, and literature, Hutton demonstrates how these figures—including hags and witches—evolved through the medieval and early modern periods.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Were There Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe? - Ronald Hutton
- Also: Queens of the Wild
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