What do you think?
Rate this book
The Great Mother: An Analysis of the Archetype
Neumann examines how the Feminine has been experienced and expressed in many cultures from prehistory to our own time. Appearing as goddess and demon, gate and pillar, garden and tree, hovering sky and containing vessel, the Feminine is seen as an essential factor in the dialectical relation of individual consciousness, symbolized by the child, to the ungraspable matrix, symbolized by the Great Mother.
624 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
About the author
Erich Neumann
105 books398 followersErich Neumann was a psychologist, writer, and one of Carl Jung's most gifted students.
Neumann received his Ph.D. from the University of Berlin in 1927. He practiced analytical psychology in Tel Aviv from 1934 until his death in 1960. For many years, he regularly returned to Zürich, Switzerland to give lectures at the C. G. Jung Institute. He also lectured frequently in England, France and the Netherlands, and was a member of the International Association for Analytical Psychology and president of the Israel Association of Analytical Psychologists.
Erich Neumann contributed greatly to the field of developmental psychology and the psychology of consciousness and creativity. Neumann had a theoretical and philosophical approach to analysis, contrasting with the more clinical concern in England and the United States. His most valuable contribution to psychology was the empirical concept of "centroversion", a synthesis of extra- and introversion. However, he is best known for his theory of feminine development, a theory formulated in numerous publications, most notably The Great Mother. His works also elucidate the way mythology throughout history reveals aspects of the development of consciousness that are parallel in both the individual and society as a whole.
Neumann received his Ph.D. from the University of Berlin in 1927. He practiced analytical psychology in Tel Aviv from 1934 until his death in 1960. For many years, he regularly returned to Zürich, Switzerland to give lectures at the C. G. Jung Institute. He also lectured frequently in England, France and the Netherlands, and was a member of the International Association for Analytical Psychology and president of the Israel Association of Analytical Psychologists.
Erich Neumann contributed greatly to the field of developmental psychology and the psychology of consciousness and creativity. Neumann had a theoretical and philosophical approach to analysis, contrasting with the more clinical concern in England and the United States. His most valuable contribution to psychology was the empirical concept of "centroversion", a synthesis of extra- and introversion. However, he is best known for his theory of feminine development, a theory formulated in numerous publications, most notably The Great Mother. His works also elucidate the way mythology throughout history reveals aspects of the development of consciousness that are parallel in both the individual and society as a whole.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 21, 2016
The only reason I can't give this a solid five stars is that I have a fundamental (perhaps elemental) bias toward any narrative that tries to explain or analyze the position of women that was composed by a man. It's the nature of the partiarchal history that female narratives are usurped in this way--that we have not been empowered to write our own until recently--so it is very hard for me to just "stamp approval" on exposition written by a man about women and which references almost exclusively other men on the subject of women. It's just...difficult.
Having said that, Neumann (a Jungian and an obvious student of Bachofen) essentially declares the sacred feminine as the source of all spiritual power and the patriarchy as a fear-based usurper of that power (which is pretty dramatic considering the source...and a Jungian...whoa).
I will say that one particularly interesting point that I've not heard before was the notion of the linguistic and semiotic origins of the terms we use for ships. I've heard/read the argument that ships and cars are referenced with a feminine pronoun because they are "used" by the active masculine. In other words, objects are feminine because the verb is masculine. That which is used must be woman and that which does the using must be man (that's the argument, I mean). This book (Neumann) suggests that the reason ships are often referred to in the feminine is because the ship itself bears a symbolic connection to the uterus, which is iconic of the safest space in which a person lives (the most protected...the womb). Thus, referring to a ship as a "she" is actually a nod to the sacred feminine principle of ultimate protection in the form of the womb.
I was led to this book on the coat tails of A Feminist Revision of Jung. I think this book is going to lead me to Gimbutas, but next up is Hermetica. Reading FRENZY!
Having said that, Neumann (a Jungian and an obvious student of Bachofen) essentially declares the sacred feminine as the source of all spiritual power and the patriarchy as a fear-based usurper of that power (which is pretty dramatic considering the source...and a Jungian...whoa).
I will say that one particularly interesting point that I've not heard before was the notion of the linguistic and semiotic origins of the terms we use for ships. I've heard/read the argument that ships and cars are referenced with a feminine pronoun because they are "used" by the active masculine. In other words, objects are feminine because the verb is masculine. That which is used must be woman and that which does the using must be man (that's the argument, I mean). This book (Neumann) suggests that the reason ships are often referred to in the feminine is because the ship itself bears a symbolic connection to the uterus, which is iconic of the safest space in which a person lives (the most protected...the womb). Thus, referring to a ship as a "she" is actually a nod to the sacred feminine principle of ultimate protection in the form of the womb.
I was led to this book on the coat tails of A Feminist Revision of Jung. I think this book is going to lead me to Gimbutas, but next up is Hermetica. Reading FRENZY!
April 14, 2009
Okay, all you Jungians out there, start your engines! This is another classic take on mythology and folklore regarding the role of the feminine in civilization. Falls in the geek category, but fascinating in a geeky sort of way.
January 16, 2020
This was an amazing read. Having read Neuman's Origins of Human Consciousness and Fear of the Feminie, this book provided great historical and psychical context to the significance of matriarchal consciousness and its manifestation in the archetype of the Great Mother. Seeing how mankind has pursued patriarchal consciousness at the sacrifice of the matriarchal, this book is very relevant to today's society. As we shun Mother Nature and pursue the heavens with reckless abandoned, its evident how disastrous that position will be....it's almost as if we are punishing all things feminine. taking revenge on the Terrible Mother and rejecting the gifts she bared.
I only wish Erich Neumann lived long enough to delve into the Father archetype, which was suggested through certain lectures, that it was something he set to do.
I only wish Erich Neumann lived long enough to delve into the Father archetype, which was suggested through certain lectures, that it was something he set to do.
February 10, 2019
A vast, encyclopedic look at feminine archetypes, seen through a part anthropological, part art-historical lens. In brief, Jung 101. What may give you bittersweet feelings as you palm this colossal work is how fully we have reduced gender to “a social construction” and from there to a chintzy plastic K-Mart Halloween mask. THE GREAT MOTHER suggests there are much deeper biological/occultish spoils that lie beneath.
May 23, 2022
The purpose of this book is to follow the development of the feminine archetype in order to determine the psychic development of mankind as a collective.
Whereas depth psychology is usually hard to read, Neumann is surprisingly easy, this might have to do more with the translator than Neumann’s himself. If we compare this translation to something else in the same field, such as Jung, this is an easy read.
The book does lack the discrete wisdom we find in Jung’s writing on these historical ideas. But what Neumann lacks compared to Jung he gains in factuality. His span of history seems wider than what Jung provides, or simply the men had two different motives with their writings–motives that would shape their content. The aid and wisdom to be found in this book you have to create yourself, Neumann has so kindly provided the landscape.
This book provides a wide sweep of historical symbols by different cultures. This book and Neumann’s other book The Origins and History of Consciousness could be thought of as introductory books to depth psychology because of their focus on facts over dynamics. But I suppose the argument could sail both ways.
It is a well written book, Neumann feels competent and trustworthy. Much of his interpretations goes against the modern view, what Nuemann says is not to be found on Wikipedia, the depth psychologists truly have a unique perspective on history.
I have come to the conclusion that much of what I read I will come to understand months down the line. It does make reading an unrewarding activity, but if you trust the process–like your gains in the gym–you will be alright. “Patience and tempo” said I, to I.
Whereas depth psychology is usually hard to read, Neumann is surprisingly easy, this might have to do more with the translator than Neumann’s himself. If we compare this translation to something else in the same field, such as Jung, this is an easy read.
The book does lack the discrete wisdom we find in Jung’s writing on these historical ideas. But what Neumann lacks compared to Jung he gains in factuality. His span of history seems wider than what Jung provides, or simply the men had two different motives with their writings–motives that would shape their content. The aid and wisdom to be found in this book you have to create yourself, Neumann has so kindly provided the landscape.
This book provides a wide sweep of historical symbols by different cultures. This book and Neumann’s other book The Origins and History of Consciousness could be thought of as introductory books to depth psychology because of their focus on facts over dynamics. But I suppose the argument could sail both ways.
It is a well written book, Neumann feels competent and trustworthy. Much of his interpretations goes against the modern view, what Nuemann says is not to be found on Wikipedia, the depth psychologists truly have a unique perspective on history.
I have come to the conclusion that much of what I read I will come to understand months down the line. It does make reading an unrewarding activity, but if you trust the process–like your gains in the gym–you will be alright. “Patience and tempo” said I, to I.
November 9, 2009
Challenging read! The first half was extremely hard to plow through, but the second half made up for it. This is a fascinating read. From my notes when I read it (pre-1998) I wrote: Neumann's Great Mother was very, very difficult to begin, but developed into one of the best books I have read describing the relation of history with psychology, in this case, with the feminine.
December 26, 2013
Erich Neumann was one of the very few analytical psychologists (aka Jungians) I have read who seemed to have anything at all to add to what C.G. Jung wrote. This is not one of his better books, being basically a long list of thematically arranged references to attributes of the 'feminine'.
February 16, 2022
This is one of the greatest works of Jung's followers. An incredible level of detail is poured into uncovering archetypes in religion. Neumann's project is so large that he can't give everyone the respect they are due, but the fact that he captures so much makes this work something I return to often when looking at the relationship between the archetypes and the faith.
January 11, 2021
This will be a review of three parts. But first, let me clarify the book is about 330 pages long, it gets to over 600 pages with the index and a set of almost 200 images. So, back to the review.
1- The book is quite interesting and surprisingly accessible. You do not need to know a lot of analytical psychology or psychology, in general, to follow up on the concepts. Although Neumann does write as if the reader is already familiar with Jung's work. In particular, everything related to the collective unconscious. Therefore, previous knowledge is not required, although it would help.
2- A hundred pages or so are more or less theory about the archetype of The Great Mother, it's a different manifestation and functions. There are a couple of schematics to help construct a guiding mental image of what is that is under review. The rest of the book, and I mean, over 200 pages, is about examples of the manifestation of the archetype in art and symbols from all around the world and epochs: Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt, Roma, Peru, India, Africa, North-America, Northern Europe. Is overwhelming in its analysis and argumentation. I've found this to be over repetitive and didn't enjoy it. The references to different epochs and culture are all over the place and found it difficult to follow. This is where I thought that perhaps a more seasoned mind (than mine) was needed to have a better apprehension of the examples.
3. Finally, the edition isn't good. The letter is small and the pages have a huge margin. It almost makes me think that I may have a failed printing. The reference to figures and plates are all on different pages so you are obliged to go back for forth to see what the author is referring to. Perhaps this is something particular to my copy, I can't tell. But the copy I got at least, not really not good.
Having said all this, I'm left with the desire of reading Jung and the collective unconscious. Many of the concepts and symbolic interpretations of the works from early mankind to modern man are extremely interesting.
1- The book is quite interesting and surprisingly accessible. You do not need to know a lot of analytical psychology or psychology, in general, to follow up on the concepts. Although Neumann does write as if the reader is already familiar with Jung's work. In particular, everything related to the collective unconscious. Therefore, previous knowledge is not required, although it would help.
2- A hundred pages or so are more or less theory about the archetype of The Great Mother, it's a different manifestation and functions. There are a couple of schematics to help construct a guiding mental image of what is that is under review. The rest of the book, and I mean, over 200 pages, is about examples of the manifestation of the archetype in art and symbols from all around the world and epochs: Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt, Roma, Peru, India, Africa, North-America, Northern Europe. Is overwhelming in its analysis and argumentation. I've found this to be over repetitive and didn't enjoy it. The references to different epochs and culture are all over the place and found it difficult to follow. This is where I thought that perhaps a more seasoned mind (than mine) was needed to have a better apprehension of the examples.
3. Finally, the edition isn't good. The letter is small and the pages have a huge margin. It almost makes me think that I may have a failed printing. The reference to figures and plates are all on different pages so you are obliged to go back for forth to see what the author is referring to. Perhaps this is something particular to my copy, I can't tell. But the copy I got at least, not really not good.
Having said all this, I'm left with the desire of reading Jung and the collective unconscious. Many of the concepts and symbolic interpretations of the works from early mankind to modern man are extremely interesting.
July 15, 2013
This is a pretty rewarding read if not what you might initially thought it was going to be about. Given the dearth of studies of syncretic, pan-human ideals and thought systems of great mother/mother goddess origin tales and adventures and whatnot, this is the standout book, but don't let the first section bog you down. Drawing on his other works of historical psychologizing (only about 50% convincing, to be honest), Neumann focuses exclusively here on, well, the title shit. The second half of the book is totally amazing, bringing together, if briefly, universal models for these ideas across the globe and across time and all-too-succinctly discussing how patriarchy subsumed matriarchy and all that crap. Yes, yes, yes, this might sound old hat now, but at the time it was pretty revolutionary. The actual historical, textual materials are arranged thematically, which makes sense once you get into the nitty-gritty comparative stuff. Some things are given surprising short thrift: little to nothing of post-antiquity, pre-Islamic stuff; things like Inanna, Freja, and a multitude of others are only mentioned tangentially, but there probably just wasn't time and space for E-Pro to milk the cosmic teat for all its worth.
If you like theory and psychology, sure, whatever, then the first section is probably equally as rewarding, though I found it rather naive and superfluous.
If you like theory and psychology, sure, whatever, then the first section is probably equally as rewarding, though I found it rather naive and superfluous.
September 3, 2018
Desde una perspectiva jungiana, un examen del arquetipo de lo femenino, la Gran Madre, el círculo de transformación, las diversas fuguraciones de la diosa, desde el Paleolítico hasta su pervivencia, más allá de la represión que podría haber supuesto el patriarcado, en el cristianismo. Un libro bien documentado, muy interesante en cuanto al dominio mitológico que tiene, pero que sólo puede leerse bien si uno acata las teorías de Jung del inconsciente colectivo y del arquetipo.
August 16, 2018
This book is comprehensive in its coverage of the feminine archetype. Not being a full time Jung scholar this book was a bit tedious and pendantic read. I learned quit a bit but expect a dry and academic read
February 1, 2024
It's good to know the world of the unconscious, the source of law, poetry, music etc. came from.
Highly recommend, though i would encourage to read "The Origins and History of Consciousness" first before this one!
Highly recommend, though i would encourage to read "The Origins and History of Consciousness" first before this one!
December 17, 2021
I read this after reading quite a bit of Jung and since Erich Neumann was a student of Jung, I found there were a lot of similarities; the concept of archetypes for example.
But Erich Neumann is more clinical than Carl Jung was. Jung was something of a poetic mystic, who made a career out of being a psychologist, but wrote books that were the union of both backgrounds. Erich Neumann feels more like a pure psychologist, looking at the archetypes of the Great Mother from a clinical point of view. There is no poetry in what he writes and it is quite difficult to get through.
Yet there are some interesting glimmers in this book. There is a great bit about the nature of a Weaver Goddess, the spinner of fate and therefore life and death. Because she is the mistress of life and death, she is the patron of warriors and child-bearing women.
There is also a great bit about the Great Mother as the Goddess of Plants, which the author links to the berserker sub-culture of the Nordic peoples. Berserkers ingested strange plants in order to induce a state of euphoria, which they then rode into battle, throwing themselves at the enemy with reckless abandon. The Great Mother is the goddess of plants and because of the influence of plants upon our psyche she is the goddess of spiritual transformation and therefore the goddess of warriors (which links back to her role as the Mother of Death).
These are interesting and good arguments that allow a person to see such things through another lense, and for that I would recommend this book. But these small gems are, like everything of value, buried deep and it requires great work to attain them.
But Erich Neumann is more clinical than Carl Jung was. Jung was something of a poetic mystic, who made a career out of being a psychologist, but wrote books that were the union of both backgrounds. Erich Neumann feels more like a pure psychologist, looking at the archetypes of the Great Mother from a clinical point of view. There is no poetry in what he writes and it is quite difficult to get through.
Yet there are some interesting glimmers in this book. There is a great bit about the nature of a Weaver Goddess, the spinner of fate and therefore life and death. Because she is the mistress of life and death, she is the patron of warriors and child-bearing women.
There is also a great bit about the Great Mother as the Goddess of Plants, which the author links to the berserker sub-culture of the Nordic peoples. Berserkers ingested strange plants in order to induce a state of euphoria, which they then rode into battle, throwing themselves at the enemy with reckless abandon. The Great Mother is the goddess of plants and because of the influence of plants upon our psyche she is the goddess of spiritual transformation and therefore the goddess of warriors (which links back to her role as the Mother of Death).
These are interesting and good arguments that allow a person to see such things through another lense, and for that I would recommend this book. But these small gems are, like everything of value, buried deep and it requires great work to attain them.
July 28, 2011
It's a classic. It might be useful if you know a little bit about Jung.
December 31, 2013
An amazingly comprehensive study, this book was seminal to my own book, "The Age of the Mother." Neumann is always rewarding for anyone interested in depth psychology.
October 15, 2017
An essential. Not the most engaging
May 5, 2019
A very insightful book concerning human psychology and the nature of our reality. The author uses a multitude of examples and does a fantastic job of outlining the traits of the feminine.
April 30, 2023
A great Jungian classic! ❤️
“The study of depth psychology has shown that consciousness with its acquisitions is a late “son” of the unconscious, and that the development of mankind in general and of the human personality in particular has always been and must be dependent on the spiritual forces dormant in the subconscious. Thus modern man, on a different plane, discovers what primordial man experienced through an overpowering intuition; namely, that in the generating and nourishing, protective and transformative, feminine power of the unconscious, a wisdom is at work that is infinitely superior to the wisdom of man’s waking consciousness, and that, as source of vision and symbol, of ritual and law, poetry and vision, intervenes, summoned or unsummoned, to save man and give direction to his life.”
“The study of depth psychology has shown that consciousness with its acquisitions is a late “son” of the unconscious, and that the development of mankind in general and of the human personality in particular has always been and must be dependent on the spiritual forces dormant in the subconscious. Thus modern man, on a different plane, discovers what primordial man experienced through an overpowering intuition; namely, that in the generating and nourishing, protective and transformative, feminine power of the unconscious, a wisdom is at work that is infinitely superior to the wisdom of man’s waking consciousness, and that, as source of vision and symbol, of ritual and law, poetry and vision, intervenes, summoned or unsummoned, to save man and give direction to his life.”
June 24, 2022
Brimming with insights long forgotten by the modern mind.
Neumann delivers another classic to us as he painfully dissects the archetypal symbolism of the feminine. Neumann traces the collective concept of femininity as far back as human records allow, illuminating the psychic pathway from the earliest matriarchal societies, to feminine role in the current millennia patriarchy and everywhere in between.
Neumann’s work is perhaps more important than ever as we’ve grown increasingly distant from our roots and understanding the symbolism that lays the very ground we walk on. Not a book to be missed.
Neumann delivers another classic to us as he painfully dissects the archetypal symbolism of the feminine. Neumann traces the collective concept of femininity as far back as human records allow, illuminating the psychic pathway from the earliest matriarchal societies, to feminine role in the current millennia patriarchy and everywhere in between.
Neumann’s work is perhaps more important than ever as we’ve grown increasingly distant from our roots and understanding the symbolism that lays the very ground we walk on. Not a book to be missed.
February 27, 2022
An excellent ever-valid Jungian exposition of the female archetype. Part 2, however, is disorienting as it suffers from being lost in a sea of associations made (with some to no accuracy) between wildly different cultures.
July 20, 2019
History of the Feminine
Part 2 was appealing for me, to learn more about the feminine figures in a historical context. How the mother goddess developed.
Part 2 was appealing for me, to learn more about the feminine figures in a historical context. How the mother goddess developed.
January 2, 2022
A breathtakingly read for the ones interested in the depth of the human mind.
April 19, 2022
I found this a particularly interesting book.
It was quite long, but had lots of interesting realizations.
I especially enjoyed learning about the archetypes.
3.7/5
It was quite long, but had lots of interesting realizations.
I especially enjoyed learning about the archetypes.
3.7/5
October 11, 2022
Obviously a masterpiece. But it was soooo long and it felt like work.
December 12, 2022
This is a fantastic work. What one wants though, to go along with it, is a companion book of the Dark mother, archetypes, examples, stories. Come on, Dark Mother, where are you when I need you?
February 16, 2023
Thank !
June 21, 2023
Didn't get as much out of this as I would have liked. (I might be too dumb)
December 22, 2023
تهجيص عن أساطير الأولين
November 3, 2017
now I understand Jung - well, no one really has "the right" to say that. But certainly this book takes you on the road towards understanding, towards the light.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews