Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Johann Jakob Bachofen" - New World

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'''Johann Jakob Bachofen''' (born December 22, 1815 – died November 25, 1887) was the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[anthropologist]] and [[sociologist]], famous for his theory of [[matriarchy]] and his work on the role of women in [[ancient]] societies.  
+
'''Johann Jakob Bachofen''' (December 22, 1815 – November 25, 1887) was the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[anthropology|anthropologist]] and [[sociology|sociologist]], famous for his theory of [[matriarchy]] and his work on the role of women in ancient societies.  
  
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
  
'''Johann Bachofen''' was born in 1815 in [[Basel]], [[Switzerland]], as the first son of a wealthy merchant family. His father had a ribbon factory and was a descendant of a long line of merchants. His mother’s ancestors, on the other side, were prominent politicians and scholars.
+
'''Johann Jakob Bachofen''' was born on December 22, 1815 in Basel, [[Switzerland]], the first son of a wealthy merchant family. His father had a ribbon factory and was a descended from a long line of merchants. His mother’s ancestors, on the other side, were prominent politicians and scholars.
  
After finishing high school with honors, Bachofen went on to study [[law]] and ancient sciences in the universities of Berlin and Gottingen. Already in 1838, at the age of 23, he finished his studies with a doctoral thesis. After that he went to the [[University of Paris]] and [[Cambridge]], England for two additional years of study.
+
After finishing high school with honors, Bachofen went on to study [[law]] and ancient sciences in the universities of Berlin and Gottingen. Already in 1838, at the age of 23, he finished his studies with a doctoral thesis. After that he went to the [[University of Paris]] and [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]], [[England]] for two additional years of study.
  
He was made professor of the history of Roman law at the [[University of Basel]] in 1841, serving on that position until 1845. At the same time he was working as a judge at the Basel criminal court (1842–66). In 1845 he quit the professorial position after being accused that he has got this position solely due to his higher social standing. He remained working as the judge for the next twenty years, but completely withdrew from public life. It was in these years that he began reading and studying history. He was particularly interested in the nature and proper method of the study of history, the topic that would occupy his thoughts till the end of his life. He liked solitude and never had many friends.  
+
He was made professor of the history of [[Roman law]] at the University of Basel in 1841, serving in that position until 1845. At the same time he was working as a judge at the Basel criminal court (1842–66). In 1845 he resigned his professorial position after being accused that obtained this position solely due to his higher social standing. He remained working as a judge for the next twenty years, but completely withdrew from public life. It was in these years that he began reading and studying [[history]]. He was particularly interested in the nature and proper method of the study of history, a topic that would occupy his thoughts until the end of his life. He liked solitude and never had many friends.  
  
Bachofen remained single until he was 50 years old, living in his parent’s house. In 1865 he met beautiful and 30 years younger than him, Louise Elisabeth Burckhardt, whom he married the same year. Their only son was born in 1866.   
+
Bachofen remained single until he was 50 years old, living in his parent’s house. In 1865, he met the beautiful, 30 years his junior, Louise Elisabeth Burckhardt, whom he married the same year. Their only son was born in 1866.   
  
Bachofen started to focus his career on research in 1860s. He undertook several long journeys to Italy, France, Spain and Greece, where he studied ancient civilizations. His masterwork ''Das Mutterrecht'' was published in 1861, but it went mostly unnoticed. Bachofen continued to do research until his death.
+
Bachofen started to focus his career on research in the 1860s. He undertook several long journeys to [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Spain]], and [[Greece]], where he studied ancient [[civilization]]s. His masterwork ''Das Mutterrecht'' was published in 1861, but it went mostly unnoticed. Bachofen continued to do research until his death.
  
He died in November 25th, 1887
+
He died on November 25th, 1887
 
    
 
    
 
==Work==
 
==Work==
  
Bachofen was interested in the development of social organizations. He analyzed [[myths]] and archeological artifacts in order to reconstruct the social landscape of the ancient world. He argued that human thought has evolved from symbolical to mystical, and finally to the logical form of today’s society. He was also able to show that in different societies [[marriage]] and [[family]] took different forms, and that social system developed from matriarchal, in early societies, toward predominantly patriarchal, of Bachofen's time.
+
Bachofen was interested in the development of social organizations. He analyzed [[myths]] and [[archaeology|archaeological]] artifacts in order to reconstruct the social landscape of the ancient world. He argued that human thought has evolved from [[symbolic]] to [[mysticism|mystical]], and finally to the logical form of today’s society. He was also able to show that in different societies [[marriage]] and [[family]] took different forms, and that societies developed from [[matriarchy|matriarchal]], in early societies, toward predominantly [[patriarchy|patriarchal]], in Bachofen's time.
  
In 1861 Bachofen published his seminal work ''Das Mutterrecht'' or ''Mother Right: An Investigation of the Religious and Juridical Character of Matriarchy in the Ancient World.''. In it he presented a radically new view of the role of women in a broad range of ancient societies. Bachofen assembled documentation meant to demonstrate that motherhood is the source of human [[society]], [[religion]], [[morality]], and decorum and he drew upon Lycia, [[Crete]], [[Greece]], [[Egypt]], [[India]], [[Central Asia]], [[North Africa]], and [[Spain]]. He concluded the work by connecting archaic mother right with the [[Christian]] veneration of the [[Virgin Mary]].  
+
In 1861, Bachofen published his seminal work ''Das Mutterrecht'' or ''Mother Right: An Investigation of the Religious and Juridical Character of Matriarchy in the Ancient World''. He presented a radically new view of the role of women in a broad range of ancient societies. Bachofen assembled documentation to demonstrate that motherhood was the keystone of human society, [[religion]], [[morality]], and decorum drawing upon societies in Lycia, [[Crete]], [[Greece]], [[Egypt]], [[India]], [[Central Asia]], [[North Africa]], and [[Spain]]. He concluded the work by connecting archaic "mother right" with the [[Christianity|Christian]] veneration of the [[Virgin Mary]].  
  
Bachofen proposed four phases of cultural evolution which absorbed each other:
+
Bachofen proposed four phases of [[cultural evolution]] which absorbed each other:
 +
#'''Hetairism''': A wild [[nomad]]ic "tellurian" phase, characterized by him as communistic and [[polygamy|polygamous]], whose dominant [[deity]] he believed to have been an earthy proto [[Aphrodite]].
 +
#'''Das Mutterecht''': A matriarchal "lunar" phase based on [[agriculture]], characterized by him by the emergence of chthonic "Mystery Cults" and [[law]], whose dominant deity was an early [[Demeter]].
 +
#'''The Dionysian''': A transitional phase when earlier [[tradition]]s were masculinised as [[patriarchy]] began to emerge, whose dominant deity was the original [[Dionysos]].
 +
#'''The Apollonian''': The patriarchal "solar" phase, in which all trace of the matriarchal and Dionysian past was eradicated and modern [[civilization]] emerged.
  
1) '''Hetairism'''. A wild nomadic 'tellurian' phase, characterized by him as communistic and [[polyamourous]]. Whose dominant deity he believed to have been an earthy proto [[Aphrodite]].
+
While based on an imaginative interpretation of the existing archaeological evidence of his time, this model tells us as much about Bachofen's own time as it does the past. A selection of Bachofen's writings was translated as ''Myth, Religion and Mother Right'' (1967).  
  
2) '''Das Mutterecht'''. A matriarchal 'lunar' phase based on agriculture, characterized by him by the emergence of chthonic [[Mystery Cults]] and [[Law]]. Whose dominant deity was an early [[Demeter]] according to Bachofen.
+
Though Bachofen applied [[evolution]]ary theories to the development of [[culture]] in a manner that is no longer considered valid, and though modern archaeology and literary analysis have invalidated many details of his historical conclusions, the origins of all modern studies of the role of women in classical antiquity begin with Bachofen, extending him, correcting him, and denying his conclusions.
 
 
3) '''The Dionysian'''. A transitional phase when earlier traditions were masculinised as patriarchy began to emerge. Whose dominant deity was the original [[Dionysos]].
 
 
 
4) '''The Apollonian'''. The patriarchal 'solar' phase, in which all trace of the Matriarchal and Dionysian past was eradicated and modern civilization emerged.
 
 
 
While based on an imaginative interpretation of the existing archeological evidence of his time, this model tells us as much about Bachofen's own time as it does the past. A selection of Bachofen's writings was translated as ''Myth, Religion and Mother Right'' (1967).
 
 
 
Though Bachofen applied evolutionary theories to the development of culture in a manner that is no longer considered valid, and though modern archaeology and literary analysis have invalidated many details of his historical conclusions, the origins of all modern studies of the role of women in classical antiquity begin with Bachofen, extending him, correcting him, denying his conclusions.
 
  
 
==Legacy==
 
==Legacy==
  
Although there was little initial reaction to Bachofen’s theory of cultural evolution, largely because of his impenetrable literary style, it was only with the beginning of the 20th century that public became aware of the importance of Bachofen’s work. It eventually inspired several generations of ethnologists, social philosophers, and even writers: [[Lewis Henry Morgan]], [[Friedrich Engels]], who drew on Bachofen for ''Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State,'' [[Thomas Mann]], [[Jane Ellen Harrison]], who was inspired by Bachofen to devote her career to mythology, [[Erich Fromm]], [[Robert Graves]], [[Rainer Maria Rilke]], [[Joseph Campbell]], [[Otto Gross]] and [[Julius Evola]]. Bachofen's conclusions about archaic [[matriarchy]] still echo today.
+
Although there was little initial reaction to Bachofen’s theory of [[cultural evolution]], largely because of his impenetrable literary style, it was only with the beginning of the twentieth century that the public became aware of its importance. His work eventually inspired several generations of [[ethnology|ethnologists]], social philosophers, and even writers: [[Lewis Henry Morgan]], [[Friedrich Engels]], who drew on Bachofen for ''Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State,'' [[Thomas Mann]], [[Jane Ellen Harrison]], who was inspired by Bachofen to devote her career to [[mythology]], [[Erich Fromm]], [[Robert Graves]], [[Rainer Maria Rilke]], [[Joseph Campbell]], Otto Gross, and Julius Evola. Despite dismissal of his evolutionary model, Bachofen's ideas about archaic [[matriarchy]] still echo today.
  
==Bibliography==
+
==Publications==
  
* Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1973. ''Myth, religion, and mother right''. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691017972
+
* Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1973. ''Myth, Religion, and Mother Right''. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691017972
  
 
* Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1984. ''Mutterrecht und Urreligion''. A. Kröner. ISBN 3520052067
 
* Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1984. ''Mutterrecht und Urreligion''. A. Kröner. ISBN 3520052067

Revision as of 23:29, 14 October 2006


Johann Jakob Bachofen (December 22, 1815 – November 25, 1887) was the Swiss anthropologist and sociologist, famous for his theory of matriarchy and his work on the role of women in ancient societies.

Life

Johann Jakob Bachofen was born on December 22, 1815 in Basel, Switzerland, the first son of a wealthy merchant family. His father had a ribbon factory and was a descended from a long line of merchants. His mother’s ancestors, on the other side, were prominent politicians and scholars.

After finishing high school with honors, Bachofen went on to study law and ancient sciences in the universities of Berlin and Gottingen. Already in 1838, at the age of 23, he finished his studies with a doctoral thesis. After that he went to the University of Paris and Cambridge, England for two additional years of study.

He was made professor of the history of Roman law at the University of Basel in 1841, serving in that position until 1845. At the same time he was working as a judge at the Basel criminal court (1842–66). In 1845 he resigned his professorial position after being accused that obtained this position solely due to his higher social standing. He remained working as a judge for the next twenty years, but completely withdrew from public life. It was in these years that he began reading and studying history. He was particularly interested in the nature and proper method of the study of history, a topic that would occupy his thoughts until the end of his life. He liked solitude and never had many friends.

Bachofen remained single until he was 50 years old, living in his parent’s house. In 1865, he met the beautiful, 30 years his junior, Louise Elisabeth Burckhardt, whom he married the same year. Their only son was born in 1866.

Bachofen started to focus his career on research in the 1860s. He undertook several long journeys to Italy, France, Spain, and Greece, where he studied ancient civilizations. His masterwork Das Mutterrecht was published in 1861, but it went mostly unnoticed. Bachofen continued to do research until his death.

He died on November 25th, 1887

Work

Bachofen was interested in the development of social organizations. He analyzed myths and archaeological artifacts in order to reconstruct the social landscape of the ancient world. He argued that human thought has evolved from symbolic to mystical, and finally to the logical form of today’s society. He was also able to show that in different societies marriage and family took different forms, and that societies developed from matriarchal, in early societies, toward predominantly patriarchal, in Bachofen's time.

In 1861, Bachofen published his seminal work Das Mutterrecht or Mother Right: An Investigation of the Religious and Juridical Character of Matriarchy in the Ancient World. He presented a radically new view of the role of women in a broad range of ancient societies. Bachofen assembled documentation to demonstrate that motherhood was the keystone of human society, religion, morality, and decorum drawing upon societies in Lycia, Crete, Greece, Egypt, India, Central Asia, North Africa, and Spain. He concluded the work by connecting archaic "mother right" with the Christian veneration of the Virgin Mary.

Bachofen proposed four phases of cultural evolution which absorbed each other:

  1. Hetairism: A wild nomadic "tellurian" phase, characterized by him as communistic and polygamous, whose dominant deity he believed to have been an earthy proto Aphrodite.
  2. Das Mutterecht: A matriarchal "lunar" phase based on agriculture, characterized by him by the emergence of chthonic "Mystery Cults" and law, whose dominant deity was an early Demeter.
  3. The Dionysian: A transitional phase when earlier traditions were masculinised as patriarchy began to emerge, whose dominant deity was the original Dionysos.
  4. The Apollonian: The patriarchal "solar" phase, in which all trace of the matriarchal and Dionysian past was eradicated and modern civilization emerged.

While based on an imaginative interpretation of the existing archaeological evidence of his time, this model tells us as much about Bachofen's own time as it does the past. A selection of Bachofen's writings was translated as Myth, Religion and Mother Right (1967).

Though Bachofen applied evolutionary theories to the development of culture in a manner that is no longer considered valid, and though modern archaeology and literary analysis have invalidated many details of his historical conclusions, the origins of all modern studies of the role of women in classical antiquity begin with Bachofen, extending him, correcting him, and denying his conclusions.

Legacy

Although there was little initial reaction to Bachofen’s theory of cultural evolution, largely because of his impenetrable literary style, it was only with the beginning of the twentieth century that the public became aware of its importance. His work eventually inspired several generations of ethnologists, social philosophers, and even writers: Lewis Henry Morgan, Friedrich Engels, who drew on Bachofen for Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State, Thomas Mann, Jane Ellen Harrison, who was inspired by Bachofen to devote her career to mythology, Erich Fromm, Robert Graves, Rainer Maria Rilke, Joseph Campbell, Otto Gross, and Julius Evola. Despite dismissal of his evolutionary model, Bachofen's ideas about archaic matriarchy still echo today.

Publications

  • Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1973. Myth, Religion, and Mother Right. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0691017972
  • Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1984. Mutterrecht und Urreligion. A. Kröner. ISBN 3520052067
  • Bachofen, Johann Jakob. 1997. (original work from 1861). Das Mutterrecht. Suhrkamp. ISBN 3518277359 (English translation: Mother Right: A Study of the Religious and Juridicial Aspects of Gynecocracy in the Ancient World, 2006, Edwin Mellen Press, ISBN 0773458832)

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Freke, Timothy & Gandy, Peter. 2002. Jesus and the Lost Goddess: The Secret Teachings of the Original Christians. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 1400045940
  • Gadon, Elinor. 1989. The Once and Future Goddess: A Sweeping Visual Chronicle of the Sacred Female and Her Reemergence in the Cult. San Francisco: Harper. ISBN 0062503545
  • Hildebrandt, Hans-Jürgen. 1988. Johann Jakob Bachofen: Die Primär- und Sekundärliteratur : mit einem Anhang zum gegenwärtigen Stand der Matriarchatsfrage. Edition Herodot. ISBN 3924007497
  • Illies, Joachim. 1975. Adolf Portmann, Jean Gebser, Johann Jakob Bachofen: Drei Kulturforscher, drei Bilder vom Menschen. Vertrieb für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland. ISBN 3720150674
  • Salmony. 1980. Johann Jakobs Bachofens Geschichtsdeutung. Birkhauser. ISBN 0817615792

External links

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