Jezabel
Determined. Strategic. Defiant.
JEZABEL, 9th century BCE, Phoenicia, modern day Lebanon
Jezebel, a prominent figure in 869-850 BCE, was a Phoenician princess who grew up in a polytheistic goddess-based tradition where she was seen and valued by her community. She was educated, autonomous, enjoying as many rights as men, and likely trained in sacred sexual rituals.
She entered into her marriage to Ahab, a Hebrew King, wielding her own political power. Their marriage was not only a political, military, and trading alliance but also a clash of cultural and religious traditions. King Ahab came from a culture and religion firmly rooted in patriarchy and a monotheism. The king aligned himself with his wife, which led to a peaceful synthesis of diverse cultural and religious practices in the royal court showcasing a new level of cultural and religious syncretism. King Ahab’s Levite leaders disapproved fearing it would challenge their patriarchal control over women. They labeled sexually autonomous women, including sacred temple women, as whores, enforcing their own attitudes on female ownership.
Contrary to the often-sexualized portrayals in later interpretations, her historical role was primarily one of political power and influence in ancient Israel. Despite this, Jezebel's legacy has been marred by negative portrayals and the "Jezebel spirit" moniker, a term used to label women as vile and promiscuous and to diminish women’s political power and leadership. This piece aims to recognize her as a complex and determined character, challenging preconceived notions and emphasizing her political prowess over the centuries-old stigmatization associated with her name. This piece also seeks to capture the tension between the two world views Jezebel is caught between and reflects broader societal and cultural shifts during this historical period. She stands as the central figure between patriarchal abrahamic traditions and matrilineal goddess traditions underscoring the ideological struggle between matrilineal, female-empowering traditions and the patriarchal structure of the emerging monotheistic traditions in ancient Israel. It invites viewers to imagine how broader social and cultural norms would have evolved if matrilineal equity-based cultural and religious practices had been able to thrive in balance with patriarchal traditions.
Artwork by Moonjube
