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ROMAN CATHOLIC SIBYL
Contrary to popular notions, history reveals that women were
at varying times in history revered as equal in station to
men in earlier societies and within the orthodox church. A
simple and undeniable example of how women were once
acknowledged as equals to men in the orthodox church may be
seen when we look at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in
Rome, where for all the world to see, Michelangelo painted
five women — Sibyls — in equal station with five Prophets of
the Old Testament.
Each of the prophets is paired with a Sibyl on the opposite
wall. These include the Delphic Sibyl and Joel,
Isaiah, and the Erythraean Sibyl, the Cumaean
Sibyl and Ezekiel, Daniel and the Persian Sibyl,
and the Libyan Sibyl and Jeremiah. The theme of the
artist's message suggests the idea of "Redemption and
suggests that Revelation in both the Judaic world and in the
'Pagan World' shared the same theme.
During the Renaissance the rediscovery and study of many of
the Ancient Greek and Roman writings, previously lost to the
West when the Roman Empire was destroyed by barbarians,
stirred acknowledgment of the role of women in the
historical development of religion and philosophy. While in
later times, the knowledge of women's role in history
intellectually was squelched by the orthodox teachings,
knowledge of the role of women was preserved in this great
work. |
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The influence of women in the pre-historical period and during
the days of the Greco-Roman Empire was quite different than
it is today. Women were looked to for both wisdom and
guidance. They were considered as guardians of the Way and
Truth and were held in high esteem.
In the period prior to the development of cities, during the
time of the development of agricultural societies, women
were the mainstay of the communities. They farmed the land
and cared for the children while men were away hunting.
Later, history tells us, women influenced the development of
the city-state and religion. They alone tended the fires of
the hearth and managed affairs at home while men went off to
war. They were the teachers of the young and as the the
first farmers, developed the agricultural knowledge of
farming and investigated and developed the use of herbal
medicines and knowledge of healing. They were the spiritual
teachers of their children.
Women impacted religious literature and philosophy
reportedly to a great degree in the Ancient World. One may
look to the myths and legends of the many Ancient Societies
for numerous examples, of women who were revered as
Goddesses, but the ancient sources also point to women as
active participants playing a central role in the
development of early philosophy as a whole. An example is
the wife of Pythagoras, Theano (582 BC–507 BC), who
was a member (along with her three daughters) of the
original Pythagorean cult which it seems was influenced by
the teachings of one of the Sibyls.
Pythagoras produced a school of philosophy that was
both religious and mystical that made important
contributions to mathematics, musical theory, and astronomy.
What is not commonly known however is that there exists a
record that Pythagoras acquired the greater part of his
ethical doctrines from Themistoclea, the Priestess of
Delphi, and that what he taught, he had heard from her.
There is a document attributed to Theano in which she
discusses metaphysics including her views on marriage, sex,
women, and ethics. Upon the death of Pythagoras, Theano,
alongside her two sons, became the director of the
Pythagorean school.
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CUMAEAN SIBYL: Ezekial
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DELPHIC SIBYL: Joel
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ERYTHRAEAN SIBYL: Isaiah
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LIBYAN SIBYL: Jeremiah
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PERSIAN SIBYL: Daniel
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Our Father, who art in Heaven;
hallowed by Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil. Amen
Catholic Prayer, Our Father
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