Since the beginning of the human race, people have been creating gods and goddesses in an attempt to anthropomorphize that which they cannot otherwise understand. They create extensive biographies for their deities and, as time passes, they take the liberty of revising the myths to fit the needs of their intellectual and moral climate.
In the pre-Christian era, mythology was more often taken metaphorically than literally, yet it was considered sacred. Pagan gods and goddesses were woven into the local folklore, which would be passed down from generation to generation much the same way as childhood fairy tales. These allagories were used to teach values and articulate the esoteric nature of the divine in a manner that society could grasp, much in the same way we use fictional stories today to teach our children moral values. Everyone knows the story of the little shepherd boy who cried wolf is not an actual account of an historical event, but many of us have used this story to teach our children the virtue of honesty. The mythology of ancient times was used much the same way.
"Whenever a devotee wishes, with unwavering faith, to worship me in a particular form, I take that form."
Long before the patriarchal religions began to systematically suppress women, goddesses were an integral part of human spirituality and the feminine aspect of all things was held sacred. For nearly every god, there was a female counterpart who was equally revered. A pantheon of goddesses fills mythology originating from every part of the globe.
