Our favourite TV historian returns to the BBC with a brand new series tracing the hidden and, often controversial, history of women in religion. From Ancient Greece and Rome to China and India, she uncovers stories which unlock a secret history of the world: one which still affects us today. From the dawn of time humans have felt the need to worship, to find a purpose and bring a shape to human existence. Women have always been at the heart of our understanding of the divine but, Hughes argues, this part of our history has often been ignored, buried away. There is sure to be something about Byzantium!
Bettany’s website describes the series with a dash of typical sexual frissance as ….
… Bettany reveals the hidden history of women in religion, from dominatrix goddesses to feisty political operators and warrior empresses.
In this provocative upcoming series, Bettany tells the stories of the extraordinary women whose legends and lives cast new light on some of the hottest arguments about the role of women in religion today.
Drawing on cutting edge scholarship and archaeological evidence, she reveals what her favourite women in religion tell us about the lives of the real flesh and blood women of their day.
The series starts tonight, 11 April on BBC 2 and should be available later on iPlayer.
More about the series in Bettany’s website and the BBC profile of Divine Women.
Byzantine Blog 
‘Was’ looking forward to watching ‘Divine Women’ – but the editing is so awful, very flitty, it is too disturbing to watch.
Agreed. Fascinating subject but hurt my eyes to watch – as though it were some kind of Hollywood action movie. Sound effects disturbing too. As though the programme makers did not have enough confidence in the material itself
It was typical Bettany, all sex and windswept hair, but also it seems that this is way history prograames are presented these days!