Press realease: Who is the Modern Goddess?

12 December 2024
Who is the Modern Goddess? Gresham College to explore the fact and the theories in New Year event
Gresham Professor of Divinity, Ronald Hutton, to give lecture as part of his series on Modern Paganism on Wednesday, 8 January 2025, online and in central London
It’s been around 200 years since the appearance of the standard modern image of a goddess: a woman representing the natural world, or the moon and stars, or both. It is now very familiar, but how did it come to be?
The ancient pagan world did have all the component parts of the image, but they only came together and became dominant in the course of the nineteenth century. Since then, they have had a huge impact on the Western imagination.
On Wednesday, 8 January 2025, Gresham College’s Professor of Divinity, Ronald Hutton, will explore the history of the Modern Goddess, tracing the development of belief in this being’s importance, and her impact not only on creative literature but upon the developing disciplines of ancient history and archaeology.
He will unpack the different kinds of politics this figure represents.
It is the third in his six-lecture series looking at Modern Paganism and Witchcraft.
“I will explore some of the theories, unpack the research and trace the developments from Victorian times through to the present day.
“As we turn the page and start a new year, here is a chance to look back and see the world differently.”
Since its appearance, this concept of the divine feminine has become a source of inspiration for many projects, including poetry, novels and art. It has also influenced feminist politics, lifestyle blogs and cosmetics branding.
The lecture will be given at Gresham College’s base in Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn, London.
Starting at 6pm on 8 January 2025, entry is free, and it is also broadcast live online. It will last an hour.
In-person places can be booked online via Gresham College’s website, https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/modern-goddess
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Images available on request
For more information about this story or to arrange an interview with a Gresham Professor please contact: Phil Creighton press@gresham.ac.uk
About Gresham College
Gresham College has been providing free, educational lectures - at the university level - since 1597 when Sir Thomas Gresham founded the college to bring Renaissance Learning to Londoners. Our history includes some of the luminaries of the scientific revolution including Robert Hooke and Sir Christopher Wren and connects us to the founding of the Royal Society.
Today we carry on Sir Thomas's vision. The College aims to stimulate intellectual curiosity and to champion academic rigour, professional expertise and freedom of expression. www.gresham.ac.uk
Gresham College is a registered charity number 1039962 and relies on donations to help us encourage people's love of learning for many years to come. For more details or to make a gift, visit our website.
About the series Modern Paganism and Witchcraft
These lectures focus on the new historic role of Britain as the birthplace of a cluster of modern religions inspired by those of pre-Christian Europe, the first completely formed religions that Britain has ever given the world.
They have spread across Western nations and now represent a major component of contemporary religiosity.
The lectures explain why, when, and how this happened, the characteristics of these modern Pagan traditions and their implications for society and culture.