The Nine Maidens: Priestesses of the Ancient World

Stuart McHardy has traced memories of groups of nine women, most likely priestesses, across much of Europe and as far as Siberia, Korea, India, and Africa, suggesting they may have been one of the oldest cultural institutions humanity has known.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 203 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2023
Publisher: Luath Press Ltd

Across much of our world, stories of nine women, often attending a goddess or linked to a heroic or divine male, abound. These narratives can be found in various cultures and regions, including the mothers of the Norse God Heimdall, Morgan and her sisters on Avalon, the nine sisters at the core of the founding myth of the Gikuyu of Kenya, and witches battling with the Irish St. Patrick.

Inspired by a local story still recounted in his hometown of Dundee, Stuart McHardy has uncovered what appears to be memories of groups of nine women, most likely some form of priestesses, across a vast expanse of Europe, stretching as far as Siberia, Korea, India, and Africa. These tales of nine women transcend numerous cultural and linguistic boundaries, whether they are portrayed as Pictish saints, Muses, Valkyries, Druidesses, or witches.

A remarkable illustration of this can be seen in a cave painting dating back over fifteen thousand years, found in a Catalonian cave. In this painting, nine women are depicted dancing around a priapic male, suggesting that these groups may have been among the oldest cultural institutions known to humanity.

These stories of nine women continue to captivate and intrigue us, shedding light on the rich tapestry of human history and culture. They remind us of the enduring power of women and their roles in shaping our world.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804250914