Her Fertile Crescent
I have been busy reseatching and outlining, and here is what I've got for a book idea:
title: Her Fertile Crescent
genre: historical/mythological fiction (with romance aspects and descriptions of sacred sexuality)
The novel is set in the historical time period of about 3,000 BCE in ancient Sumeria, which is now modern day Iraq. The story is based on the earliest example of writing, the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic (considered a mythology) focuses on a king named Gilgamesh (considered a historical person) and his adventures. The tale is largely concerned with the king's closeness to his best friend Enkidu and the king's search for immortality. The women in the story are side notes.
My novel is told from the first person point of view of a woman raised in the power-center of the time, the Temple of Inanna. Everyday life is intertwined with both spirituality and sexuality. Civilization is considered feminine, and land ownership is largely under the control of women. However, the culture is undergoing change--the leaders in the temple have been slowly moving to make men equal partners. The main character is trained to lead the temple and "becomes" the goddess Inanna. As leader she makes bold moves to include the king (usually a figurehead) in rulership of the land. This shift is threatened when the king gains a following and attempts to take over. The king eventually destroys the sacred records of the temple and rewrites history, naming himself Gilgamesh, a god that rules over all things considered feminine.
The main character goes through significant relationships with four different men. Her first lover worships her as the sacred embodiment of the goddess and will not accept the equal relationship she offers. Her second lover (Gilagamesh) takes the power she offers and then wants more, until he wishes to dominate. Her third lover (Enkidu) is her equal but is also friends with the king, and when he tries to negotiate peace between them ends up killed.
The main character flees the city and becomes an initiate of a group of mountain yogis, intending to return to her city at the right moment and regain power. The yogis are a hermit people and she becomes a tavern keeper who trades goods for them, which helps her spies keep her informed of what Gilgamesh is doing. She struggles with her feelings towards a local man and his offer to live a simple life, but feels it would be a betrayal of Inanna to let Gilgamesh win control over the city and therefore over women.
Gilgamesh, on his quest for immortality, comes to her tavern seeking the people rumored to be immortal (the yogis). Gilgamesh seems to have changed from an arrogant, chauvinistic young king to a seasoned leader aware of the fragility of life. She offers to return with him and rule in partnership. He becomes angry and abusive, blaming her for the death of Enkidu, which was Gilgamesh's fault. The local man comes to her aid and wounds Gilgamesh, swearing to kill him if he ever returns.
The main character then takes her fourth and final lover, creating a partnership with the local man that is based on real equality.
title: Her Fertile Crescent
genre: historical/mythological fiction (with romance aspects and descriptions of sacred sexuality)
The novel is set in the historical time period of about 3,000 BCE in ancient Sumeria, which is now modern day Iraq. The story is based on the earliest example of writing, the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic (considered a mythology) focuses on a king named Gilgamesh (considered a historical person) and his adventures. The tale is largely concerned with the king's closeness to his best friend Enkidu and the king's search for immortality. The women in the story are side notes.
My novel is told from the first person point of view of a woman raised in the power-center of the time, the Temple of Inanna. Everyday life is intertwined with both spirituality and sexuality. Civilization is considered feminine, and land ownership is largely under the control of women. However, the culture is undergoing change--the leaders in the temple have been slowly moving to make men equal partners. The main character is trained to lead the temple and "becomes" the goddess Inanna. As leader she makes bold moves to include the king (usually a figurehead) in rulership of the land. This shift is threatened when the king gains a following and attempts to take over. The king eventually destroys the sacred records of the temple and rewrites history, naming himself Gilgamesh, a god that rules over all things considered feminine.
The main character goes through significant relationships with four different men. Her first lover worships her as the sacred embodiment of the goddess and will not accept the equal relationship she offers. Her second lover (Gilagamesh) takes the power she offers and then wants more, until he wishes to dominate. Her third lover (Enkidu) is her equal but is also friends with the king, and when he tries to negotiate peace between them ends up killed.
The main character flees the city and becomes an initiate of a group of mountain yogis, intending to return to her city at the right moment and regain power. The yogis are a hermit people and she becomes a tavern keeper who trades goods for them, which helps her spies keep her informed of what Gilgamesh is doing. She struggles with her feelings towards a local man and his offer to live a simple life, but feels it would be a betrayal of Inanna to let Gilgamesh win control over the city and therefore over women.
Gilgamesh, on his quest for immortality, comes to her tavern seeking the people rumored to be immortal (the yogis). Gilgamesh seems to have changed from an arrogant, chauvinistic young king to a seasoned leader aware of the fragility of life. She offers to return with him and rule in partnership. He becomes angry and abusive, blaming her for the death of Enkidu, which was Gilgamesh's fault. The local man comes to her aid and wounds Gilgamesh, swearing to kill him if he ever returns.
The main character then takes her fourth and final lover, creating a partnership with the local man that is based on real equality.