Greek mythology is rife with stories of lusty gods descending from their heavens in pursuit of mortal women.
But there are also representations in Greek art and literature of their feminine counterparts chasing down and making off with earthly men._x000B__x000B_ Mary Lefkowitz, the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Humanities at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass., will share her theories about the predatory goddesses of Greek mythology in a lecture at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in Room 1004 of Girvetz Hall at UC Santa Barbara.
Lefkowitz, an acclaimed classics scholar and advocate for intellectual integrity, comes to UCSB as a fellow of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and will make presentations to various graduate and undergraduate classes in addition to her free public appearance.
Her visit is co-sponsored by the UCSB Department of Classics._x000B__x000B_ In her talk, Lefkowitz will point out that almost half the paintings on surviving Grecian vases depict scenes of goddesses abducting young males.
What did these scenes mean to the artists? How did Etruscan buyers interpret them?
Were they depictions of romance to be admired for their beauty or was there deeper significance?_x000B__x000B_ Lefkowitz will offer her interpretation._x000B__x000B_ Among her many books are the controversial Not Out of Africa, Black Athena and Black Athena Revisited.
Journalists frequently seek her views.
She has been a guest on national radio talk shows and on the CBS television news magazine 60 Minutes._x000B_
Share this article
Related Stories
