First, she looks at theodora, a prostitute turned empress, who allied herself with mary the mother of god to rule over a great christian empire. She is known for her work on warrior women with lupita nyongo 2019, the spartans 2004 and the bible. There has always been a robust feminist agenda to hughess area of study. Professor bettany hughes is an awardwinning historian, author and broadcaster. We had the two wives of mohammed, the empress wu, and st hilda. Nov 07, 20 bettany hughes is an awardwinning historian, author and broadcaster who has devoted much of the last twenty years to the vibrant communication of the past. Spotlight on bettany hughes, notting hill and ealing high. She visits a world where goddesses ruled the heavens and earth, and reveals why our ancestors thought of the divine as female. The historian and tv presenter bettany hughes reveals the secrets of athenian priestesses, byzantine empresses and. Her first book, helen of troy, has been translated into ten languages.
She cites the acts of paul and thecla, and tells part of the story to show. Apr 10, 2012 the wisdom of women written out of history bettany hughes. From the hemlock cup, her book about socrates, to divine women, last years threepart series on bbc2. Biography merlin stone became interested in archaeology. From the hemlock cup, her book about socrates, to divine women, last years threepart series on bbc2 focusing on the role of the female in early religions, and their gradual ousting by men. Lets look at some of your book choices, which explore. Apr 05, 2012 i meant to mention this last week when leonie jameson executive producer sent it over, but there is a new threepart series on wednesday evenings on bbc2 entitled divine women. Jul 26, 2015 10 questions for broadcaster bettany hughes. For aw17 toast ran a book sharing campaign in shops and online.
Bettany hughes on socrates and the role of women in religion. Bettany has been away in albania and greece researching her new book. Eight days that made rome all 8 episodes bettany hughes. I meant to mention this last week when leonie jameson executive producer sent it over, but there is a new threepart series on wednesday evenings on bbc2 entitled divine women. Ancient history is recorded as a mans world, but women were far closer to the gods. She was also asked to chair the 2011 orange prize for fiction, the uks only annual book award for fiction written by women. Bettany hughes is an awardwinning historian, author and broadcaster who has devoted much of the last twenty years to the vibrant communication of the past. Helen has now been translated into ten languages and has sold over 50 000 copies. She read ancient and modern history at oxford university and then continued her postgraduate. Bettany hughess new book paints a portrait of a vibrant, troubled metropolis forged from ancient revolution, conquest, and upheaval. Here, we find out more about bettany hughes, alumna of notting hill and ealing high school. Helen of troy is the culmination of 15 years research. Bettany hughes believes that the early church presents a profound case for the ordination of women.
The daughters of eve historian and broadcaster bettany hughes meets the feisty women figures of the bible. The story behind the most beautiful woman in the world. Abc for both the british and international markets including divine women. The wisdom of women written out of history bettany. As the church of england moves towards its first women bishops, the historian will argue in an upcoming tv programme that the ordination of women neither contradicts the faith nor the practice of church in its early formation. Bettany hughes bettany hughes is an awardwinning historian, author and broadcaster who has devoted much of the last twenty years to the vibrant communication of the past. She is known for her work on warrior women with lupita. In india, bettany hughes joins thousands of hindus in the worship of formidable goddess durga. Published 2005 the book traces attitudes to women over 2,800 years as reflected by the figure of helen. Ancient history was a mans world but women were considered closer to the gods. This was a much better programme, more tightly focused, and moreover focused on historical women rather than speculation. Bettany hughes looks at the vital role of women in ancient religions.
About divine women historian bettany hughes reveals the hidden history of women in religion, from dominatrix goddesses to feisty political operators. The historian bettany hughes chooses five books about strong women in history. May 10, 20 historian bettany hughes goes back to the beginning of time and visits the worlds oldest religious site to find startling evidence that women were part of the very birth of organised religion. As the church of england moves towards its first women bishops, the. Goddess, princess, whore is a scattergun, scatterbrained work that is nonetheless highly entertaining. My six best books bettany hughes, 49, is a historian and broadcaster whose television documentaries include britains secret treasures, the ancient world and the spartans. First editions produced by cape and pimlico in the uk and by knopf and vintage in the us in 20056. Bettany hughes history of women in religion continues with an exploration of the. Bettany hughes is an awardwinning historian, author and broadcaster. She read ancient and modern history at oxford university and then continued her postgraduate research while traveling through the balkans and asia minor. Socrates, athens and the search for the good life by bettany hughes book 26 editions published between 2010 and 2012 in english and korean and held by 1,711 worldcat member. Find out when divine women is on tv, including series 1episode 2.
Reading it is something like inviting your friends from your. Bettany has been away in albania and greece researching her new book and is now head down writing. The new bbc two series divine women, presented by the historian bettany hughes, had an interesting thesis. She visits a world where goddesses ruled the heavens and earth, and reveals why our ancestors thought of the divine. She has written and presented numerous documentaries for the bbc, pbs, the discovery channel, the history channel and national more about bettany hughes. The role of women in the early days of christianity has been suppressed, according to a leading historian who has questioned the traditional. The wisdom of women written out of history bettany hughes. Hughes is a longstanding patron and supporter of educational and campaigning.
Divine women offered an insight into those goddesses so often. May 10, 20 awardwinning historian bettany hughes discovers how the period known as the dark ages was in fact a golden age for a few remarkable women. My six best books bettany hughes, 49, is a historian and broadcaster whose television documentaries include britains secret treasures, the ancient world and. The role of women in the early days of christianity has been suppressed, according to a leading historian.
As part of this we asked the historian, broadcaster and writer bettany. Divine women series and episode guides tv from radiotimes. Historian bettany hughes goes back to the beginning of time and visits the worlds oldest religious site to find startling evidence that women. Until now the bulk of hughes work has been in her specialist subject, the world of antiquity. Divine women god was a girl, says bettany hughes 97 per cent of all deities of wisdom have been female. She cites the acts of paul and thecla, and tells part of the story to show christian womens attitude to sex, no longer needing for procreation, they were free to be virgins.
Goddess,princess, whore, was published to great critical acclaim and has now. Autumn is drawing in which means it is the start of a new academic year. Apr 12, 2012 the new bbc two series divine women, presented by the historian bettany hughes, had an interesting thesis. For 3,000 years, the woman known as helen of troy has been both the ideal symbol of beauty and a reminder of the terrible power beauty can wield. Awardwinning historian bettany hughes discovers how the period known as the dark ages was in fact a golden age for a few remarkable women. In her search for the identity behind this mythic figure. Bettany s documentary divine women explores the history of women s relationship with the divine from the very beginning of organised religion in prehistoric times. The best books on divine women recommended by bettany hughes.
And theodora, who started life in the gutter as an. In her search for the identity behind this mythic figure, acclaimed historian bettany hughes uses homers account of helens life to frame her own investigation. Bettany hughes on books about strong women telegraph. Socrates, athens and the search for the good life by bettany hughes book 26 editions published between 2010 and 2012 in english and korean and held by 1,711 worldcat member libraries worldwide. Download your free copy of the divine women booklet. She finds that education and the written word became vital tools for these women. Divine women there is more too at the open university. Bettany hughes obe born 14 may 1967 is an english historian, author and broadcaster, specialising in classical history. Historian bettany hughes goes back to the beginning of time and visits the worlds oldest religious site to find startling evidence that women were part of the very birth of organised religion. Apr 25, 2012 ive been watching bettany hughes divine women. Jan 01, 1976 merlin stone is a sculptor and professor of art and art history, perhaps bestknown for her feminist book, when god was a woman. Historian bettany hughes travels to india, greece and china on the trail of three giants of ancient philosophy. Reading it is something like inviting your friends from your undergraduate years over for dinner, plying them generously with alcohol and letting them rant on about whatever literary or artistic idea comes into their minds.