of the later-developed
sensuous faiths upon their earlier god-idea, marks the change from
female to male supremacy.

We have observed that whenever a remnant of the civilization of the
ancient Cushites appears, exactly as might be expected, women hold an
exalted position in human affairs, at the same time that the female
principle constitutes the essential element in the Deity.

Of the ancient Persians who received their religion and their
civilization from this older race Malcolm observes:

"The great respect in which the female sex was held was, no doubt, the
principal cause of the progress they made in civilization.... It would
appear that in former days the women of Persia had an assigned and
honorable place in society; and we must conclude that an equal rank
with the male creation, which is secured to them by the ordinances of
Zoroaster, existed long before the time of that reformer, who paid too
great attention to the habits and prejudices of his countrymen to have
made any serious alteration in so important an usage. We are told
by Quintus Curtius, that Alexander would not sit in the presence of
Sisygambis, till told to do so by that matron, because it is not the
custom in Persia for sons to sit in the presence of their mothers.
There can be no stronger proof than this anecdote affords, of the great
respect in which the female sex were held in that country, at the time
of this invasion."(69)

69) See History of Persia.

No one I think can study the sacred books of the Persians without
observing the emphasis which is there placed on purity of character
and right living. Indeed, within no extant writings is the antithesis
between good and evil more strongly marked, at the same time that their
hatred of idolatry is clearly apparent. The same is observed in the
early writings of the Hindoos. Within the Vedas, although they have been
corrupted by later writers, may still be traced a purity of thought and
life which is not apparent in the writings of later ages. Not long ago
I was informed by a learned native of India that the original writing of
the Vedas was largely the work of women.

That the early conceptions of a Deity in which women constituted the
central and supreme figure were in Egypt correlated with the exercise of
great temporal power, may not, in view of the facts at hand, longer
be doubted. By means of records revealed on ancient monuments, we
are informed that in the age of Amunoph I. a