goddesschess.com : : Mission Statement

i.) Search for the origins and meaning of traditional board games:
"Is chess the game of the goddess?"

ii.) Networking and facilitation of educational and "live" events:
Views & links to previous partners and events

iii.) Complete mission statement as printable pdf brochure
Cover page • Inside page

iv.) Sponsorship information

v.) Submissions guidelines For research papers, creative work and special events

"Is chess the game of the goddess?"

"...chess is but an imperfect variant of a game that was itself a variant of a germinal game whose origins lie somewhere in the darkness of time." D.B. Pritchard - The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants

"Despite the documented evidence of chess historian H.J.R. Murray, I have always thought that chess was invented by a goddess." George Koltanowski - from the forward to: "Women in Chess - Players of the Modern Game"

"Chess has two faces: the exoteric one, which is available only to the outside world and profane science, and the esoteric one, which can be understood by the (sic) dedicated to the secret science of the Indians. There are two possible interpretations of the chess game: the first one is the traditional and popular explanation that chess is a nice martial game and nothing else; it has become the communis opinio of the whole human race and of the highest representatives of science. It is difficult to correct the errors. Goethe once said that the greatest enemies of new truths were the old errors. I am now in the position of the man who with a granule of sand hits at a granitic rock. Nevertheless, I think the truth is on my side and the moment of triumph shall come. The new interpretation that I give is the true face of chess game, the clue of its secret of many centuries. The boyish tale tht chess is a martial game represents but the false face of chess game, its backside." From an article by Pavle Bidev: p. 80:

Georgia Albert - 01:49pm Dec 6, 1998 MST (1)
"I have been researching the demise of the Goddess. I have realized that the game of chess made the queen, or Goddess, the most powerful piece on the board. She can move freely and be resurrected. The patriarchal religions did not like the idea of the Goddess having so much power, so the game was banned for many years by the Catholic church. I have read that the reason for the ban was because the chess game promoted war. I do not believe this. I believe the reason for the ban was because chess was the game of the Goddess."

Why the interest?
The study of games is as "polyvalent" as the subject and the chase for the origins of chess forks in several directions. A puzzle box for the ages, chess offers clues about itself that often suggest far more ancient origins than generally assumed. Among the many, signatures of forceful goddesses appear in the hunt, on the battlefield and in the stars, weaving justice and bestowing harvest as she makes her cosmic rounds. Her eye and her hand are ever upon us, but in order to return her gaze, restoration of the feminine face of traditional board games must touch the hems of garments woven from the following interdisciplinary threads ...

• archaeology & anthropology
• history of ancient civilizations
• old world migration & trade routes
• cosmology
• astronomy
• astrology
• cartography
• epigraphy
• iconography
• semiotics
• etymology
• mythography
• mass media
• sacred texts
• exceptional literary references
• history of mathematics
• sacred geometry
• magic squares
• numerology
• animism
• sympathetic magic
• board game ritual
• ritual divination

:: OUR METHOD - "The Weave" : Perhaps the best way to approach The Weave is to simply pick a spot and just start reading!

:: OUR MADNESS! Who We Are - brief biographies of current and former contributors

:: CONTRIBUTIONS If you would like to contribute essays, artwork and other content, please view our Contacts & Submissions guidelines.