CHAPTER II 



FROM THE DAWN OF HISTORY : WOMAN AS SAINT 



AND WITCH 



Taboos of first chapter indicate that in the early ages the 

 fear of contamination by woman predominated ; Later, 

 emphasis fell on her mystic and uncanny power ; 

 Ancient fertility cults ; Temple prostitution, dedication 

 of virgins, etc. ; Ancient priestesses and prophetesses ; 

 Medicine early developed by woman added to belief in 

 her power ; Woman's psychic quality of intuition : its 

 origin — theories — conclusion that this quality is prob- 

 ably physiological in origin, but aggravated by taboo 

 repressions ; Transformation in attitude toward woman 

 in the early Christian period ; Psychological reasons 

 for the persistence in religion of a Mother Goddess ; 

 Development of the Christian concept ; Preservation 

 of ancient women cults as demonology ; Early Christian 

 attitude toward woman as unclean and in league with 

 demons ; Culmination of belief in demonic power of 

 woman in witchcraft persecutions ; All women affected 

 by the belief in witches and in the uncleanness of 

 woman ; Gradual development on the basis of the 

 beliefs outlined of an ideally pure and immaculate 

 Model Woman. 



From the data of the preceding chapter, it is 

 clear that in the early ages of human life there 

 was a dualistic attitude toward woman. On the 

 one hand she was regarded as the possessor of 



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