Black Athene (hell, myths, gnostic, recall, Mary)

[gnostic]

I have never got around to investigating the Black Athene. I believed that someone wrote a book about Black Athene.

Now I've come across Black Demeter in Greek mythology, but not Black Athene.

(Black Demeter is a local legend in Arcadia, where the goddess Demeter was raped by Poseidon, when they were both in the forms of horses, and she gave birth to a daughter, known only by her title - Desponia; her real name is known by the Arcadian mystery cult. She was called Black Demeter, because she was angry with Poseidon and for the loss of her daughter Persephone. But I am not interested in Demeter.)

Does anyone know about this Black Athene? Is there a myth or legend in regarding to the Black Athene?

Thanks.

[Orontes]

Originally Posted by gnostic

I have never got around to investigating the Black Athene. I believed that someone wrote a book about Black Athene.

Now I've come across Black Demeter in Greek mythology, but not Black Athene.

(Black Demeter is a local legend in Arcadia, where the goddess Demeter was raped by Poseidon, when they were both in the forms of horses, and she gave birth to a daughter, known only by her title - Desponia; her real name is known by the Arcadian mystery cult. She was called Black Demeter, because she was angry with Poseidon and for the loss of her daughter Persephone. But I am not interested in Demeter.)

Does anyone know about this Black Athene? Is there a myth or legend in regarding to the Black Athene?

Thanks.

Hello,

Black Athena is not a myth or legend. It is/was a book by a Martin Bernal. The thrust of Bernal's thesis was that Greek Culture was not indigenous, but was basically the byproduct of Egypt (and also Mesopotamia). The work came out in the late Eighties as I recall. It quickly moved from the academic arena to being a popular reference among Afrocentrist thinkers and therefore became political. As far as Classical scholarship is concerned, Bernal's notion has received little support. His work is seen as possessing too many contradicted claims and unsupported assertions: in short an agenda void of substance. Mary Leftkowitz is a simple example of a Classicist who effectively took Bernal's position to task.

[Melissa G]

Black Athena, is as has just been stated, a construct of Afro-Centrism, and has nothing to do with Greek Myths, Bernal's claims also cover a Black Sphinx, Black Egyptians, Black Cleopatra, and should accordingly be dismissed as Racist Posturing.

Melissa G

[gnostic]

I must have seen the book in the library, but never picked it up to read about it and I don't remember which library I saw this book, and I was curious about what this is all about.

Thank you, Orontes and Melissa, for clearing this up. Now I can give up this fruitless venture.

[rhys]

It is worth noting, however, that Bernal was a very major scholar, and it is silly to dismiss his work because it goes against one's prejudices.

[Willamena]

You may find some reference to the "black" Athena under the name Nikta in Greece, Anath or Ath-enna in Canaan/Palestine, and as Neith in Lybia or Nut in Egypt. The variations of an archaic image of Athena are associated through her symbols and mythological imagery, handed down from Neolithic and Palaeolithic times, and with the goddesses Metis and Medusa and her twin, Pallas or Pales/Pan.

Nikta is known only from the Orphic Mysteries recorded in The Theogyny of Hesiod.

Possessing powers greater than all other deities,
Nikta came forth from primordial choas,
black as the midnight heavens,
and then gave birth to day,
and then gave birth to all of airy space.

From Nikta came forth the Sister Gorgons,
Sthenno, Euryale and Medusa.
From Nikta came forth the Sister Hesperides,
Aigle, Erytheia and Arethusa,
those who guard the golden apple trees
that grow in an orchard of the westernmost lands,
yet are owned by Mother Gaia,
who gave them as a wedding gift to Hera.
From Nikta came forth the Sister Fates,
Klotho, Lachesis and Athropos,
thos who allot life's destiny
and punish those who go against life's law.

Her black wings sheltering Her nest,
Nikta brought forth the Egg in the Wind,
the egg from which Erotic love, Eros,
came into the world at the beginning of time--
so that the race of mortals might begin.

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by rhys

It is worth noting, however, that Bernal was a very major scholar, and it is silly to dismiss his work because it goes against one's prejudices.

I am only dismissing it because I am only interested in mythology, not one's view in just Greek culture was being influenced by civilisation Africa and Asia. I have no doubt about such influences, but I am only interested in the goddess Athene.