6-8 March 2025, Marshall University
To honor the 150th anniversary of Classics at Marshall University, the Department of Humanities announces a conference that focuses on Goddess traditions. We will explore the concepts evoked by the phrase, “The Goddess at the Crossing Place.”
The goddess at the crossing place refers to spaces where divine power intersects directly with people. A liminal symbol, the crossing suggests a circumstance where human beings can grow and transform. Sanskrit goddesses receive worship at “seats or altars” that embody manifestations of goddesses in the world and at “crossing places” that connect the human and the divine. These sacred places are the intended destinations for actual pilgrims and the imaginary & visionary realms of introspective mystics. Hecate stalks the crossroads and accepts sacrifices there. Persephone is both a maiden of spring and the queen of the dead. The crossing places are fundamental to the Greek Mysteries of these goddesses. Through the evolution of her theology and ritual traditions, Inanna of ancient Sumer, evolves to be the Goddess of the Heavens, the Earth, and the Underworld—the being who crosses all the boundaries. These concepts express a view of human experience that champions growth, change, and transformation, while also accepting destruction, subversion, and mystery.
Since the neolithic, the divine feminine has represented growth, transformation, subversion, and stability. Academics interpret texts and artifacts of goddesses to understand religions and cultures different from our own. Contemporary artists and neo-pagans resurrect and reenact religious and magical traditions whose fundamental metaphors are feminine, polytheistic, and polygendered, in sharp contrast with the masculinity associated with many contemporary religions.
We welcome creative and scholarly submissions that engage the divine feminine and explore how that engagement can empower and inform individuals and communities (past and present). In addition to conventional paper sessions, we invite submissions for a juried art exhibition, poster sessions, and performances from scholars at any point in their career and members of the public. The conference will be free and open to the public.
Subjects and themes could include (but are not limited to):
We invite:
Abstracts (scholars at any level): Please provide a 500-word description of your scholarly intervention and bibliography: 20 minutes maximum.
Proposals (students, scholars, members of the public): In 100-200 words, please describe your proposed performance, informal or exploratory presentation, creative work (such as a reading or dance), or workshop. Workshops may tackle academic subjects or offer hands-on activities. Include estimated time.
Posters (undergraduate students only): please submit a 100-200 words description of your research or creative poster. These posters may represent class projects, independent research, or creative ideas. You will have the opportunity to speak with other attendees about your poster.
Art submissions (all are welcome to submit digitally). During events, selected artworks may be displayed digitally or physically.
Abstracts, Proposals and Posters should be emailed to 150th.submissions@marshall.edu.
For Art Submissions to the juried exhibition, please send your name to 150th.Art@marshall.edu, separate instructions will follow.
The final submission deadline for Abstracts, Proposals and Art Submissions is 10 January*.
The final submission deadline for the Undergraduate Poster Session is 15 February.
*Late abstracts or other submissions will be accepted
after the 10 January deadline, but we cannot guarantee
a timely review or full consideration for any late
submissions.
Religions Journal will publish papers from our conference proceedings as volume 2 in its Goddesses Special Issue.