Skip to content
IUScholarWorks Journals
María Pinal Villanueva - Review of Belinda Crerar, Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic

María Pinal Villanueva - Review of Belinda Crerar, Feminine Power: The Divine to the Demonic


This book, written by Belinda Crerar, corresponds to the homonymous exhibition held at the British Museum between May and September 2022. The collection is vast and interesting, coming mainly from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and Greece, although it includes elements from almost the entire globe, as indicated in the foreword by Hartwig Fischer, the exhibition’s director. The prologue by Mary Beard, which briefly presents the reader with the main elements of the feminine and the religious, is followed by the first of the five chapters, divided into categories that articulate the axis of the reading.

The first chapter, “Creation and Nature,” introduces us to different cosmogonies and entities of nature: from creation couples (as in Shinto) to goddesses related to volcanoes, water, and agriculture. A remarkable element is the universality of the feminization of entities related to Earth throughout the world. It also includes, beyond the objects themselves, descriptions of various rites the believers perform to earn the favor (or avoid the fury) of said goddesses. This ethnographic element, which goes beyond the description of the objects and their meanings, is present throughout the entire book and is one of its most remarkable strengths.

The second chapter, "Passion and Desire," explores the goddesses related to love and desire. These are portrayed not only in their most enticing side but also as understood in many cultures as unavoidable forces who can bring both peace and harmony, help the believer to come closer to the sublime experience, or disturb the soul and lead to madness in the name of carnal lust. The analysis of the history of the complex sexuality-religion relationship is thought-provoking, as it shows how something apparently dichotomic in most Western traditions can be seamlessly intertwined in other systems of belief, such as in Hinduism. The section referring to the Greek Venus and the Judeo-Christian Eve is also worth mentioning, as the reader can follow the different meanings their images have taken on through the centuries, from their origins to the present day.

The third chapter, “Magic and Malice,” delves into the world of witches, demons, and goddesses whose fury is mainly feared, such as Lilith, Medusa, or Taraka, without omitting details about the relationship between aggressiveness, fury, and the traditional notions of femininity. Likewise, it offers alternative appropriations and interpretations of their roles and stories over time, such as how some of them have been recently incorporated as a symbol of modern feminism.

The fourth chapter, “Justice and Defense,” is partly linked to the previous one since it examines themes such as war, intellect, and strategy, frequently seen as masculine attributes (and therefore, the ambiguity in many of these representations). Whilst, and in contrast to the previous chapter, this chapter portrays anger or fierceness resignified as positive attributes of defense and protection.

The last chapter, “Compassion and Salvation,” is dedicated to benevolent entities, with fewer case studies but covered in greater depth, especially regarding the Egyptian Isis and the Virgin Mary.

It is important to highlight the emphasis the author makes on the multidimensionality of each one of these entities, and that the categories that constitute the chapters are not closed compartments but question-triggers that facilitate the journey through the book. In addition, it is written in plain and accessible language, without losing academic rigor, which makes it ideal for classroom work. With its high-fidelity imagery, insightful cross-cultural comparisons, and references to current art and phenomena (even "pop" culture, when necessary), it's an enjoyable read for scholars and those interested in folklore and comparative religion, but it is also suitable for those who dare to immerse themselves in this world by the hand of Crerar, who, like a contemporary Virgil, introduces us to sublime and terrifying entities, guiding us all the way through the complex and fascinating meanings of femininity and faith.

--------

[Review length: 633 words • Review posted on May 1, 2023]